The 5:30 Sheep Race

Today my family found patriotism and the sheep McCormick Mayhem (ridden by Slippery Slim) won the 5:30 Gibbons' ground national.

I really like trying new things, and having recently been stuck in my teenage disappointment that I've done it all wilder than anyone else and nothing can ever be anything but 'boring' ever again, and then i discovered SHEEP RACING. Do you know how high sheep can jump!!! no wonder people count them to sleep, they can actually jump those old, wooden gates we dream of.

Here they are lining up, the men didn't actually ride them, just the teddies, but i think the men wanted to so just posed like this for the photo.

It was so nice because all the money raised went to the local village school, and the kids were the ones taking the bets money. £1 a bet for a sheep to win, then they divided half the total money taken for that race to give to the people backing the winning sheep. The little kids all took such pride in taking the £1 and giving you the tickets, all with their England kits on, and supervised by a suitably stern and decomposing elderly school ma'rm. You couldn't pick a better cast.

And they're off! The first race was the best as the sheep all came out the pen, then stood around not knowing what to do next. Then one of them took the initiative and ran off down the track, jumping over the little jumps. Each sheep followed in turn but even when they had a chance to over take didn't (!!- quite annoying when you have bet on them and are putting significant effort into cheering them on- but in hushed tones so as to to scare them!). The sheep like following each other, so as soon as one started the run, the race was over. This made betting quite funny, as you couldn't bet on the most active sheep, or the one ready at the gate to go, but had to try to pick out a sheep with initiative, which due to a lack of background details on the sheep's individual histories made it very hard. The farmer must have made a killing.

Next year if you are free, check it out Priddy Annual Sheep Race 2nd weekend in June.

After the sheep race we watched the football, as most of Britain probably did. My father-in-law in a moment of inspiration/temporary insanity, had brought everyone an England shirt, and two flags to fly from the car windows. Here's XSS and his pa posing non-proudly.