Just one event is pencilled in the Tetbury calendar on Bank Holiday Monday – the annual Woolsack Race!
Charitable
Thousands of locals and fans head to the small Gloucester town for a day of challenges all in aid of charity.
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The tradition of running up steep hills with woolsacks on competitors backs dates back to the 17th century.
Children, men and women compete in separate events with women carrying 35lb sacks of wool and men 60lb. This year’s event had a twist though, with races featuring bicycles.
Local cycle shop Veloton sponsored the race which saw competitors climb up the steep incline of Gumstool Hill with woolsacks on their backs.
Velton shop team rider, James Cook, was crowned the first ever winner of the race ahead of Black Bikes, Nailsworth rider Francis Eddolls.
Speaking to the Gloucestercitizen.co.uk, Cook said: “It’s the first time I have ridden the hill, so it’s a bit of a surprise”.
Fancy dress
Although the challenge isn’t for the faint-hearted, plenty do have fun with it including wrestler and extreme sports fanatic Joel Hicks who took on the hill dressed in bubble wrap.
“I have been doing this race for six or seven years and I do it in different costumes,” he said. “This year though I have had a lot of injuries – hip and shoulder surgery so I thought I would protect myself”
Joe is a serial fundraiser taking part in 60 to 70 events a year for his charity Always With A Smile.
Hope For Tomorrow’s mobile chemotherapy unit which treats Tetbury patients nearer their homes was the beneficiary of this year’s Woolsack Races.
“We invite applications from charities every year and we know many people in the local community benefit from Hope For Tomorrow” said Woolsack Races chairman Richard Burton.
Tetbury thrived in the middles ages as a market for wool and it is thought that the races originated in the 17th century by young drovers showing off to local women by running up the hill carrying a woolsack.
Source: http://www.farminglife.com/news/farming-news/new-ceo-for-british-wool-marketing-board-1-7409847
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