The Mascot Gold Cup takes place at Wetherby Races on 29 April 2012 and local mascots will be there to celebrate as the event reaches £100,000 in terms of funds raised for charities. Organisers at Sue Ryder’s Manorlands Hospice are putting out a call for more mascots and even for groups who want to borrow one to come along and join in the fun.
The idea for the race was conceived in 2005 at a Young Farmers Club meeting. Andrew Wood who was present and is now race organiser for the event’s main beneficiary Sue Ryder admits it was just another ‘daft idea’ but one which came good. He said, “We were very lucky to have the great support of the team at Wetherby Races and some great sponsors. The event has grown each year to be now the largest of its type in the world that we know of. Seven years on we’ve had some great days out and its staggering to think that a throw away comment has lead to the generation of £100,000.”
The Mascot Gold Cup, sponsored by Foresters has become an integral part of Wetherby Races family day meeting with thousands of people turning out to enjoy an afternoon of high quality traditional jump races and one which is a little bit different.
Wetherby is being represented by PomPom the Polar bear and Stanley the Stag from Stockeld Park, and we hope that they have the home advantage.
As is tradition a Mascot Parade will take place prior to the race itself as punters study the form of the cuddly characters and bet on them. Presentations are also made at this time to the mascot judged as ‘Best in Parade’ and the best on the day’s theme of ‘Reasons to return to Yorkshire’ as sponsored by the Royal Pigeon Racing Association.
New for this year’s event is the ‘One Minute Mascot Aerobic Warm Up’ in the parade ring. A new award, ‘Mascot of the Year’ sponsored by JCT600 will also be presented to a mascot that has done great work in their community.
Then at approximately 2:00pm fur will fly as mascots go for glory down the final furlong in front of the grandstands. Mascots are subjected to a handicapping system dependant on their size and en route to the finish line must hurdle, jump or fall over 6 fences sponsored by amongst others Skipton Building Society, Bradford Market Services and the Leo Group Ltd.
Last year in a closely contested race which can be seen on the event website, www.mascotgoldcup.org.uk Eddie the Edgehog beat ZaK the Zebra by a short spike.
To mark the breaking of the charity total of £100,000 a large field is expected to try and take the Gold Cup from Eddie with over 45 entered already and organisers are appealing for many more to sign up. Mascots can raise funds for the charity of their choice though approximately half support Sue Ryder who provide palliative and neurological care across the country.
Andrew Wood appealed for more mascots to come forward and for people who fancy a go to borrow a costume for the event.
Andrew said:
We currently have a spud, two sausages, a wolf and a giant jar available to anyone who enjoys a challenge and will raise us some funds in sponsorship.
For more information and to see the current full field of runners go to www.mascotgoldcup.org.uk .
For more information on how to enter or how to nominate a mascot for the ‘Mascot of the Year’ award or to find which mascots from your area are taking part contact Andrew Wood by email: andrew.wood@suerydercare.org
If you require more information on our entries, please email amy.thornton@stockeldpark.co.uk
Leo Mascot has big advantage , I was following one of their animal carcass trucks last week and had to drop back to avoid the horrible smell, could be particularly bad for mascots with large nose’s !!