A Highland professional sled dog racing star was just minutes off winning one of the most lucrative events on the international circuit.
John Stewart, 29, of Aviemore, finished second in the International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race in the US and picked up the prize of £5,515 for his efforts.
But Mr Stewart only flew out to Wyoming to compete in the event five days before, as he is currently pursuing a career as a commercial diver in Spain to help fund his sled dog racing.
The nine-stage event started on January 30 in Jackson, Wyoming, and moved through three states before finishing in Uinta County in Wyoming on Sunday.
The 350-mile race takes the format of stopping in a different town each night, similar to the Tour de France cycle race.
The prize pot for the stop stage event is the equivalent of £131,285 and it is the second most lucrative event there is in the sport.
The race had a close finish, with Mr Stewart clocking a cumulative time of 28 hours and 51 seconds and his mentor, Buddy Streeper, finishing in first place on 27 hours, 45 minutes and 28 seconds.
Since 2010, Mr Stewart has been training each winter at Streeper Kennels in Fort Nelson, British Columbia, which is run by his mentor.
Yesterday his parents Alan and Fiona Stewart, who run the Cairngorm Sled Dog Centre near Aviemore, said they were very proud.
Mrs Stewart said: “It was a great achievement because this winter he had not really planned to be racing at all.
“He ran the dogs with very little one on one with them beforehand.
“However, I was disappointed that we were not able to be out there to see him making the second place.”
Alan Stewart said: “On the last stage he was 10 minutes behind his boss but he managed to cut this down to one minute and 30 seconds by the end.”
Alan Stewart is today filming with nature adventurer Bear Grylls for a new adventure series.
Mr Stewart said he is looking forward to training Mr Grylls and observing how he gets on with the dogs.