A baaa-rmy day of racing sheep in aid of charity

Golden Sands Holiday Park, at Cresswell hosted the sheep race that made its debut at Ascot last year, that left Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, in fits of giggles.

Punters bet on the spring lambs – who needed some spring to clear the fences with their tiny toy jockeys on their backs – to raise money for St Oswald’s Hospice in Newcastle.

The Lamb National’s woolly jumpers – which have starred on the BBC’s Countryfile programme – were the centrepiece of Golden Sands’ Baaaarmy Family Fun Day at the weekend.

Park owner Nigel Thompson said: “Our Baaarmy Bank Holiday Fun Day was the best family fun day we’ve ever staged at Golden Sands. The racing lambs had to be seen to be believed.

“When the Lamb National was held at Ascot last year, it had Prince Charles and Camilla in hoots of laughter. It had the same effect here, plus we’ve raised a great amount for a very worthy cause which is certainly nothing to be sheepish about.”

Golden Sands, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary, is part of the Northumbrian Leisure group, which also owns Sandhaven holiday park in South Shields; Riverside, on the banks of the River Coquet near Warkworth; and Glororum, near Bamburgh.

The Lamb National was conceived in 2012 to bring Herdwick sheep to country shows and corporate events to show what these animals are really capable of.

The competitors hurtle around a specially-built course, leaping over special jumps on a grassy course.

St Oswald’s Hospice provides specialist hospice care to North East adults, young people and children with life-limiting conditions.

For more details about the charity, visit www.stoswaldsuk.org