A FAMILY farm has come up with its own fur-rari ‘formula 1’ racing attraction!
Hamsters and gerbils’ love of running in exercise balls is being harnessed - to power miniature cars.
Races will take place regularly at Cannon Hall Farm, Cawthorne.
Organisers think it is a fur-nomenal idea, and hope the ‘hammy races’ will prove a hit with school holiday crowds.
Sheep and ferret races - and recently goat racing, have already proved to be crowd pleasers.
Director Robert Nicholson said: “Visitors might be surprised to hear that hamsters and gerbils are taking to the track in little cars.
“Each car is powered by an exercise ball so the creature that can run the fastest inside its ball will win. They go at their own pace, which adds to the drama and excitement, and, so they don’t get tired, each hamster or gerbil will take part in no more than one race a day.”
Four hamsters or gerbils sporting their own colours will line up, then follow a course adapted from the farm’s existing ferret racing track.
In keeping with a motor racing theme, the animals will race under names including ‘Rodent Barrichello’, ‘Michael ‘Chewmacher’ and ‘Jenson Button-nose’.
There will be a live commentary and a ‘bookies’ kiosk where visitors can choose a hamster to support and win prizes.
Sheep racing on a Grand National-style course, complete with jumps, has become a big hit at Cannon Hall, and Anglo Nubian goats born and bred there have also been trained to race on the course.
Hamster and gerbil races will be run at 12.30pm and 2.30pm every day from August 1st to August 30th.
Sheep racing takes place from now until August 30th on the hour, from noon to 4pm, while ferret racing runs on the half hour, from 10.30am to 4.30pm, also until August 30th. Goat racing will take place once a day throughout August.
Other daily events for the holidays include tractor and trailer rides, birds of prey displays and children’s activities to celebrate the Olympics.
Find out more at www.cannonhallfarm.co.uk
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