NZ Baa Blacks prove ewe can do anything
14 Jul 2009
When the world’s largest sheep producer is also globally famous for its sporting prowess, it was only a matter of time before someone in New Zealand put two and two (or should we say, ewe and ewe) together.
So when sheep racing made its debut in the South Island town of Methven last weekend (11.07.09) it could well have kicked off a new spectator sport that might see New Zealand’s biggest export on the menu for a different reason.
Racing Baa Blacks
A group of specially trained sheep, nick-named the ‘Racing Baa Blacks’ hoofed it around an 80-metre track in a mid-winter charity event in the mid-Canterbury town on Saturday night.
The sheep were brightly clad in racing colours with numbers so punters could place small bets in a sweepstake. Profits will go to local charities.
Covers were swapped between races to even up the odds.
Large ski crowd
Methven’s usual population of 1200 swells at this time of the year with seasonal workers and visitors from the nearby Mount Hutt ski resort, and sheep racing organiser David Cone says about 1000 people attended the event.
Cone, a Christchurch sheep and wool consultant for 30 years, says his eight woolly jumpers have been on a strict diet and training regime which has taught them to run without being chased.
Secret means
Cone is tight lipped about his training methods and the food he gives his elite team.
The sheep are of mixed breeds and genders and can reach speeds of up to 95km (60 miles) per hour during racing.
Winter racing in Methven brought out the best in the sheep after a busy summer schedule," said Cone. "They have to run fast to keep warm."
Strict regulations
The night race under floodlights saw the sheep racing on a track that circled the town’s Blue Pub, separated from the crowds by street barriers. Two barrel jumps added to the spectacle.
Cone says he had to comply with strict safety and animal welfare regulations and the sheep have been trained with OSH (occupational safety and health) and SPCA requirements in force.
Topp assistant
Linda Topp of New Zealand’s well known comedy and musical duo the Topp Twins, compered Saturday night’s sheep racing, and helping prime the sheep for racing was ‘Perfect Woman of the Year’ winner Sarah Gould.
Handling sheep is just one of Gould’s many talents. To qualify for her perfect woman title she had to prove she could change a tyre on truck, back a trailer loaded with hay bales, fit a chain on a chainsaw and chop kindling, open a bottle of Speight’s beer without a bottle opener, plant a tree with a digger, hover a helicopter and sprint in a jet boat.
International sport
Although the weekend event was the first night meeting for the Racing Baa Blacks, the sheep have raced at other events in the past few months and Cone says he’s been astonished by the level of interest in the newly conceived sport.
"I'm starting to get inquiries to take my flock all over New Zealand," he said. "We're starting to take bookings three years in advance."
"At the moment I’m concentrating on perfecting the brand and my vision is to see sheep racing become an international sport with teams racing all around the world, like the All Blacks do," said Cone.
The Racing Baa Blacks are next due to race at a rugby club charity event in Christchurch later this month, and with several South Island contracts booked as far as three years in advance and the sport being a year-round event, the future of sheep racing looks promising.
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