Lambs battle it out for race victory

3:38pm Friday 16th May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

It was a race meeting with a difference - no horses and no jockeys.

There were plenty of punters and a card of six races. But lining up to compete were a flock of woolly-backed competitors in the Settle District Young Farmers lamb race.

More than 400 people turned up in Austwick to cheer on the little bleaters, bedecked in colourful racing jackets, who were encouraged to tear along an enclosed track to get back to their mothers, who waited eagerly at the finish line.

There were six races, each with six entrants, and the winner of each race went through to a grand final at the end of the day.

Runners with names such as "Lamb Chop", "Grass Guzzler" and "Mint Sauce" were eager to claim the glory but it was "Snowball" who was on a winning roll, much to the delight of Liz Hayes and Jo smith who were the proud sponsors of the champion.

"The day was a huge success" said Robert Garth, one of the main organisers.

"As well as raising some much-needed funds we have hopefully gained some good publicity for the Young Farmers, which is such a fantastic youth organisation, offering young people in the countryside so many opportunities.

"Hopefully, we might encourage some new members to join."

The day also offered various other entertainments, with bouncy castles, a car boot sale, face painting and a a sheep shearing demonstration by professional shearer Francis Pickles. It was a big attraction, with the youngsters helping to wrap up the fleeces after the sheep had been clipped.

A sheep dog demonstration was also given by Robin Booth, offering spectators the chance to see close up the everyday work of a sheep farmer.

The event also linked in with the Year of Food and Farming and promoting British Agriculture.