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Mascots strike gold for Sue Ryder Care at Wetherby

5 June 2008

Organisers of the Mascot Gold Cup, held at Wetherby Races last month have announced that the event broke all records with a field of 83 mascots competing.  The event also raised a record amount for charities, over £19,000 with £17,000 of this benefiting Sue Ryder Care who jointly organized the race with the Yorkshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs. 

Mascots from across the UK traveled to Wetherby to take part in the third Mascot Gold Cup sponsored by Sky bet and took on the likes of Raw from Blackburn Rovers, Sonny the Sunflower from Sue Ryder Care and Charlie Challenge from BAE Systems. 

Prior to the race mascots fought it out to be crowned ‘Best mascot in parade’ as Sue Ryder Care Director of Fundraising Eric Grounds interviewed participants and encouraged punters to place their bets in the Sky bet ‘predict the winner’ competition.  Winner of the award was Donny the White Knight from Doncaster Knights Rugby Club.  The prize for most money raised for Sue Ryder Care went to Stuart Cracknell who ran as the ‘Pippin’ the Copper Dragon, representing the Copper Dragon Brewery who collected £592.  During the parade, mascots had an intake of crucial supplies of ranges, Yorkshre Tea and water kindly supplied by Jaffa, Taylors of Harroagte and Nestle respectively. 

Following the first traditional horse race, the collection of colorful characters spilled onto the course in preparation for the one furlong trip.  The race has a handicapped start to give mascots large and small an equal chance and it was Mr Sausage representing the MLC who took the early lead until a dramatic fall at the first fence sponsored by Corus.  This left Albie from the Piazza Centre, Huddersfield out in front until he too took a fall at the second fence sponsored by Skipton Building Society.  Cliffe the Castle from Keighley Town Centre Association lost his foot at the second but carried on and was still in the lead by the time he reached the third fence sponsored by theme sponsor Morrisons. Cliffe was still leading by the time he reached the Sovereign Healthcare sponsored fourth hurdle but by the fifth fence, sponsored by the National Market Traders Federation the speedy Megumi Noodle Box from the Wokon Noodle bar in Leeds had caught and passed him and after clearing the final fence sponsored by Bradford Market Services he crossed the winning line 10 meters in front of  H’angus the Monkey from Hartlepool United.  Third was Potato Pete, representing the Year of Food and Farming which was the theme of the race along with that of ‘Healthy Hearts’ as supported by Heart Research UK and Morrisons.  The award for the first professional mascot home was Daddy Cool from Wakefield Wildcats and the prize for being last home without stopping was Jenny Jar from British Glass.

In the competition for best turned out home made Healthy Heart themed mascot, Thomas Ogden from Worth Valley Young Farmers Club was the winner with the club’s effort, Jeckel and Heart which was themed on what was good and bad for heart health.

Sue Ryder Care Fundraiser Andrew Wood was delighted with the event and thanked Wetherby Racecourse and Conference Centre, Yorkshire Young Farmers, the Sponsors and the mascots for attending.  “The race is growing into a real attraction and we are hoping that next year we can now take on the world record for most mascots in a race which was set over ten years ago at Huntington race course.  The funds raised will be spent on the valuable services that Sue Ryder Care provides to thousands of people each year through its network of hospices and neurological care centres.” 

To see footage of the race log into the website www.mascotgoldcup.org.uk and click on the link.  Any companies charities or clubs interested in participating in next year’s race held on 26th April should phone Andrew wood on 01535 640430 or email Andrew.wood@suerydercare.org

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