Like a Rotarian Up a Drainpipe!
FERRET Race Night
When members of the Rotary Club of Tarporley visited their twin club in Meinerzhagen in Germany, they realised that they would have to do something special in order to be able to afford to reciprocate the excellent hospitality and fellowship they had received. They set themselves a challenging target and started to seek suitable ways to raise the funds.
They had also been looking for some time for an event that they could share with the Round Table Club in Tarporley, with whom they organise the annual village carnival, but do very little else together during the year. Rotarian David Carter heard from friends in the RC of Oundle in Northamptonshire about a race night with a difference that they had run, and so it came about that they arranged this FERRET racing night. All the thrill and fun of a filmed race night, but with live ferrets instead of the boring old videos!
Over 80 people joined in the fun at the Tarporley Community Centre, and the evening raised over £800 for the two clubs, from bar takings, raffles and betting on the races. Each race was sponsored by a club member and each 'mount' also had an 'owner'. The ownership of mounts in the last race were auctioned on the night, and President Martyn's wife Meri was the lucky buyer of the fastest animal, wining three bottles of champagne. The photo shows Meri stroking Martyn's ferret (honestly!)
During the evening there were three races before dinner. The Club then laid on a hot pot supper, after which there were four more races, the last being an auction race, for which ownership of each animal raised over £15.
Chris said that IFW&R rescue over 500 ferrets every year & that all the money they charge (only £120 for the evening) is used for the welfare of these animals. The ferrets are not forced to race, but seem to enjoy the fun of 'playing' on the race track.
Anyone interested in arranging a ferret race evening, contact Chris Tyler on 01922 627029 (usually on Ansafone, but he does ring back eventually!)
When members of the Rotary Club of Tarporley visited their twin club in Meinerzhagen in Germany, they realised that they would have to do something special in order to be able to afford to reciprocate the excellent hospitality and fellowship they had received. They set themselves a challenging target and started to seek suitable ways to raise the funds.
They had also been looking for some time for an event that they could share with the Round Table Club in Tarporley, with whom they organise the annual village carnival, but do very little else together during the year. Rotarian David Carter heard from friends in the RC of Oundle in Northamptonshire about a race night with a difference that they had run, and so it came about that they arranged this FERRET racing night. All the thrill and fun of a filmed race night, but with live ferrets instead of the boring old videos!
Over 80 people joined in the fun at the Tarporley Community Centre, and the evening raised over £800 for the two clubs, from bar takings, raffles and betting on the races. Each race was sponsored by a club member and each 'mount' also had an 'owner'. The ownership of mounts in the last race were auctioned on the night, and President Martyn's wife Meri was the lucky buyer of the fastest animal, wining three bottles of champagne. The photo shows Meri stroking Martyn's ferret (honestly!)
During the evening there were three races before dinner. The Club then laid on a hot pot supper, after which there were four more races, the last being an auction race, for which ownership of each animal raised over £15.
Chris said that IFW&R rescue over 500 ferrets every year & that all the money they charge (only £120 for the evening) is used for the welfare of these animals. The ferrets are not forced to race, but seem to enjoy the fun of 'playing' on the race track.
Anyone interested in arranging a ferret race evening, contact Chris Tyler on 01922 627029 (usually on Ansafone, but he does ring back eventually!)