Woolly jumpers ready for Whalton Village Sheep Race
Sep 4 2010 The Journal
PUNTERS at this unusual race will be hoping they don’t get fleeced when they place their bets.
Sixteen wool-clad racers are set to battle at out at the first-ever Whalton Village Sheep Race.
And organisers believe the race could be the first of its kind in Northumberland.
Sheep racing – which is thought to have originated in New Zealand – sees 16 sheep, in four heats of four, racing round a roughly 100m track before a grand final between the winners.
-
Race commentator Alex Swailes with the cup for fastest sheep
-
Show chairman Martin Keegan with Ricky Thompson (right), sheep trainer
-
-
Show chairman Martin Keegan with Mary's lamb "Sure to Go"
-
-
-
-
Punters looking to take part will be able to place bets on the woolly competitors, who will be decked out in full racing colours, complete with their own miniature “jockeys”, and the race is commentated by “Morpeth gadgie” Alex Swailes.
Whalton Village Show organiser Martin Keegan and Middleton-based vet Dick Thompson are both racing four of their own sheep in the race.
“There has been a lot of interest in the race in the village already,” said Martin, whose Cheviot ewes include Sure to Go, Fleeced, Jumper and Shanksy.
