WETHERBY racecourse will see a steeplechase with a difference this coming Sunday, as mascots of all shapes and sizes race for recycling.

The Yorkshire Young Farmers Rural Recycling Mascot Steeplechase will be held at the famous Racecourse and members of the organisation are keen to make sure that no mascot gets left out of the action.

Yorkshire Young Farmers promote recycling
Photo: YFYFC.org

The idea of the race - the largest ever to be held in the North of England - was conceived by members of the Yorkshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, who are using the event to promote their organisation, raise money for charities and help with their aim to promote household recycling in rural areas.

Over the past six weeks members aged between 10 and 26 have been compiling a database of 200 mascots and invites have been sent out to invite them to take part. Already signed up to take part are Lamby and Beefy from the TV adverts and there are many others from the world of sport, charity and corporate organisations chomping at the bit to join in the action.

The furry spectacle will be race No. 2 on Wetherby's 'Family day' race card, ensuring that participants will receive a rousing reception as they complete the 1 furlong dash in front of the grandstands.

Each entrant has to jump five fences and then sprint to the line in an effort to be proclaimed "King of the Mascots".

The Federation's 48 clubs are determined not to miss out on all the fun and have been beavering away on designing and creating their own mascots to run in the race.

To emphasise the Reduce, Re-use and Recycle theme, the YFC mascots will all have some element of re-used or recycled material as part of their costume.

The environmentally conscious Young Farmers will be using the event - along with their County Show in June - to carry out some practical examples of recycling. Members, along with the general public, are being encouraged to take along their spent printer cartridges and unused mobile phones which will be collected by Recycool and recycled.

The charity aspect is another key theme of the day as YFC County Chairman and event director Andrew Wood explained: "Young Farmers are well known for their charity fundraising exploits and the mascot race is no exception.

"Each mascot will be asked to raise a small entry fee through sponsorship, which will go directly to our nominated charity, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

"Any sponsorship raised above the level of the entry fee can be donated either to the Air Ambulance or to the charity of the mascot's choice."

More information about the Young Farmers movement in Yorkshire is available by calling 01423 865870; alternatively, visit the YFYFC website

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