is herbie really a blck sheep?

[richard p]

Some of the sheepish contenders.
Come on - ewe can go faster than that.

Trainers will be doing their best to pull the wool over each other's eyes today , as Norfolk's first thoroughbred racing sheep come under starter's orders.

Elly and Stevie Chalmers, who own Bircham Windmill at Great Bircham, have crossed Suffolk and texel strains of sheep to give the normally laid-back animals a touch more va va voom.

Bloodline aside, they say an army marches on its stomach and the same apparently applies if you're hoping to convince a sheep to break into a gallop.

“It's special racing mix - go faster cake,” said Mr Chalmers, loading up a trough at the finishing line of a special course complete with jumps which has been erected behind the mill.

At the starting line, one or two woolly ears pricked up at the rustle of a food bag.

“They've been in training for about three weeks now,” said Mrs Chalmers, as she adjusted the sheep's cuddly riders, which bizarrely included a Postman Pat look-alike. “Bell's a bit of a favourite because she's fast - and greedy.”

Mr and Mrs Chalmers are unsure whether they want to say too much about form ahead of Monday's racing. Bell's owner Rosie Charnley, 15, from Old Hunstanton, seemed quietly confident as she watched her in training.

But a dark horse - or perhaps a black sheep - called Herbie who came up on the rails to show Bell the way home, as Postman Pat parted company with his mount on the first bend, narrowly missing a special delivery left behind by another sheep.

Today they go from 12.30pm, as part of a country day at the mill from 10am - 5pm. Attractions include sheep shearing and milking demonstrations, a dog show, stalls, show jumping and demonstrations including a Victorian Norfolk cottage.
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[oldherbaceous]