A Norfolk farmer whose dancing sheep were offered sanctuary in Turriff during last year's foot-and-mouth outbreak said thank you in typically eccentric style at the market town's show yesterday.
Stuart Barnes, 36, and his nine performing sheep were due to stay for two days during last year's show, but were left stranded in Turriff when restrictions were imposed on the movement of livestock.
They ended up staying on show secretary Bruce Ferguson's farm for three weeks.
Yesterday they showed their gratitude by holding a special race, one that landed Mr Barnes in hospital the one and only time it had been tried before. The last time he tried the stunt he was carried off on a stretcher in Wales after he was stampeded by the animals desperate to get to their feed. "I really don't know what will happen," he told the crowd, "so if one comes at you the best advice I can give you is run."
With that, the numbered sheep were let out and were quickly hot on the heels of feed-carrying Mr Barnes, who only just managed to outrun the winner – number four, Golden Fleece, aka Sam the Suffolk. Lenny the Jamaican-looking, Bob Marley-loving, Lincoln Longwood, predictably finished last.
