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Dawdling pigs go backwards during annual 'race'

Scott Ellis
BBC News, West of England
BBC A number of pigs run along a course in the sunshine with people watching on from both sides of the road and a thatched cottage.BBC
The pigs, painted with stripes to distinguish them, had to be coaxed in the right direction with vegetables, one volunteer said

A Wiltshire village hosting an annual pig race was inundated with excited crowds over the weekend.

Hundreds lined the race track through Bishopstone, near Swindon in Wiltshire, as the British saddlebacks – including Bacon City Roller, Chairman Sow and Habeus Porcus – made their way past small obstacles.

A "Piggy Power" bookmaker set up to raise money for charity managed to make £1,000.

Tim Finney, landlord of the village pub, The Royal Oak, helped to organise the race. "They're having a great time and being well fed," he said. "But it's not really a race, is it? Some of them have been going backwards."

Commentator Mr Finney said that the so-called International Pig Racing event, which is described by organisers as "the world's worst sport", was all just a bit of fun.

"It's a very informal day. We're a very informal village, and I just think people like it, and I think also people sometimes just need to do something silly."

A middle aged man wearing a brown hat looks at the camera with a thatched cottage, temporary metal fencing, people and trees in the background.
Organiser and commentator Tim Finney said the race was very informal

Volunteer Rae Henderson said the pigs had been trained to walk around a track – but still needed help on the day.

"As much as they get trained, they don't actually do what they're told so I stand behind them at the board and tell them to go forward instead of backward," she said.

She said she used vegetables to keep them going in the right direction.

"Obviously the main motivation is food," she said. "They won't do anything without food. "

A young woman wearing a brimmed hat crouches in straw looking at the camera with a number of pigs lying down behind her.
To keep the pigs going in the right direction, volunteer Rae Henderson tempted them with vegetables

Farmer Helen Browning, who owns The Royal Oak and the pigs, said that any concerns about their welfare were misplaced.

"They seem to enjoy it, and they have their moment in the sun," she added.

Ms Browning, who is also the head of the organic food certification charity the Soil Association, added: "When you think that most pigs live in incarcerated concrete jungles and never see the light of day, they would give their eye teeth to have a day pig racing and all the fun that goes along with it."

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