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A pub in Derbyshire is preparing to host the 20th
annual "world hen racing championship".
The event, held at the Barley Mow in Bonsall, involves birds being
released at a start line and encouraged along a track by their human
"coaches".
Held on the first Saturday of every August, the tournament is expected
to attract hundreds of competitors and spectators.
People can bring their own hens or "rent" one for the day.
The competition was first devised by the pub's former landlord Alan
Webster in 1991 after he learned villages would compete with each other
to race hens in the early 20th Century.
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Current landlord David Wragg said the event was more popular than ever
and had previously attracted entrants from Spain, Finland and the US.
'Not natural racers'
He said: "They didn't bring their own hens but there are some
enterprising young individuals who rent them out for the day."
The human coaches are banned from touching the hens after releasing them
at the start line but can encourage them along the 20m (65ft) track in
any way they see fit.
Mr Wragg said although hens were not the most natural of racing animals,
the event was still very competitive.
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"People have their own training techniques and there's a lot of shaking
tins, cheering, even wearing strange head gear. It's all good fun," he
said.
"But I won't be entering a hen myself this year. That could be seen as
foul - or should that be fowl - play."
Entry to the event is free but Mr Wragg said there would be a collection
for an animal welfare charity.
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