Moffat Sheep race with knitted jockeys ...

[chenrezig]

It's a Lamb-orghini! Thousands cheer on ewes and their knitted woollen jockeys as they hurtle through the streets in rural town's annual sheep races

Crowds lined the pavement in sleepy Moffat, southern Scotland, to watch the town's traditional sheep racing contest
Costume clad ewes - some even wearing hats - go up against each other with hand-knitted jockeys on their backs
Locals and tourists place bets on who will win the exciting races, with all proceeds going to town promotion group

Losing punters could have claimed it was a stitch-up. But those who tipped the successful hand-knitted jockey in today's Moffat Sheep Race will have been far from sheepish when collecting their winnings, having proved themselves as experts when it comes to judging speedy ewes.

The annual get-together has become an unmissable event in the Dumfries and Galloway town, where locals and tourists try their hand betting on sheep as they hurtle through Moffat's closed High Street in a series of fun races. All of the ewes, which are supplied by a local farm, don racing uniforms and fancy dress items for their runs, and sprint to the finish line carrying woollen jockeys on their backs. There are also several races where rams lock horns on the track too.

The sheep races celebrate Moffat’s sheep farming and centuries old woollen industry, with the event made possible by the generosity and support of the local farming community. Moffat's best known pubs, restaurants, cafés, craft and gift shops all join in the festivities, with street stalls popping up to offer visitors the best in local produce, arts and crafts.

Today's running was the fourth year in a row the races have taken place, with crowds getting bigger each time. All of the ewes, which are supplied by a local farm, don racing uniforms and fancy dress items for their runs, and sprint to the finish line carrying woollen jockeys on their backs. The tactically astute ewes appear to know to keep themselves packed in closely to prevent drag, allowing them to retain valuable energy for the final sprint

The annual get-together has become an unmissable event in the Dumfries and Galloway town, with thousands of spectators attending

[annie]

Cute! tha22222