Last updated 19:49, Thursday, 28 August 2008

AN UNUSUAL race day was held in Cockermouth on Sunday as sheep took to the track for charity.

• View more pictures...

Fresh faced: Sophie Smyth, aged six, from Cockermouth, has her face painted by Gill Olley

By Karen Evans

Organised by Greysouthen Young Farmers’ Club, it was part of a fund-raising event for Hospice at Home West Cumbria and The Stroke Association.

More than 200 people attended the event, which raised £1,300.

Eight races were held, sponsored by Cumbrian firms Tynedale Farm Services, Hope Auctions, Harrison and Hetherington Auctioneers, CT Hayton Company, Wild Agriculture, Mike Dowling Contracting, Mitchell Auctioneers and Billington Cars.

Corinna Coates, club chairman, said: “We were so pleased to see so many people at the event and we want to thank all the companies that sponsored us. Without them we couldn’t have gone ahead with the races.

“The day was about more than raising money, it was about getting our young farmers to have fun taking part in the event.”

The club got the idea for the fund-raiser after Miss Coates saw a similar event taking place at a Young Farmers’ Club in Scotland.

She said: “The event seemed like a fantastic idea to get the community together and lift everybody’s spirits after last year’s foot and mouth cases.”

Tynedale Footrott Handicap: That’s All That She Wrote, owned by M/s Fawcett. Dowlings Classic Mint Sauce Race: Shawn Two, owned by Allan McGowen.

CT Hayton Ltd Derby: Jumping Jack Flash, owned by Jenny Clark. Champion Mixed Feeds for Performance Stakes: Tilly, owned by Courtney Watson. Boardaway.com: Baramue, owned by Lindsay Hutson. Hopes Light Lamb Auction Stakes: Trinny, owned by Peter Thompson. Wild and Woolly Championship: West Coast Girl, owned by West Coast Commercials. Auctioneers’ Lot: Olympic Gold, owned by Mary Taylor.