Latest news with #SarkSheepRacingFestival
ITV News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- ITV News
International animal rights group calls on Sark to cancel Sheep Racing Festival
An international animal rights group has called on Sark to end its traditional Sheep Racing Festival. The Sark Sheep Racing Festival is an annual event where sheep race down a grass track with teddy bear jockeys strapped to their backs. The event takes place in the summer, with proceeds going to the Professor Charles Saint Sark Medical Trust. However, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has written a letter to the Sark Carnival Committee to urge them to race "willing human participants" instead. The Committee met to discuss the letter, and say they will consult with the States of Guernsey vet before making a decision on the best course of action to take. The letter reads: "Sheep are many things, but they are not clowns for human entertainment or professional athletes on whom to wager. "They are gentle, good-natured, playful, and loving animals with complex emotions, [and] are also protective parents and resourceful problem-solvers. Above all, they're individuals who feel pain and fear. "Holding sheep races sends a dangerous message to young people that it is acceptable to objectify animals and use them as little more than living props. "The sheep do not consent to participating in this confusing and stressful event and should be left in peace." PETA is an animal rights group against the use of animals in laboratories, the food industry, the clothing trade, and the entertainment business. They have historically called for bans and changes in the UK to protect animals, from phasing out police dogs to changing the name of The Sly Old Fox pub in Birmingham, calling it "derogatory". Dawn Carr, PETA Vice President of Vegan Corporate Projects, says: "Sheep do not consent to participating in this confusing and stressful event and should be left in peace. "There are plenty of fun and family-friendly rural activities without animals that can be celebrated. "How about a 'potato' and spoon race, a hobby horse jump competition, or a tractor tug of war?" The next Sark Sheep Racing events will begin on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 July 2025. Want the inside track on the issues that will shape Guernsey's Election this June? Listen to Guernsey Votes, an ITV Channel podcast packed with expert guests, local insight and analysis you can trust...
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Call to end sheep race is 'urban wokery gone mad'
The event is a staple in the island's tourism calendar [BBC] A Sark resident has described calls to end the island's annual sheep races as "urban wokery gone mad". In a letter to the Sark Carnival Committee, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals group (Peta) wrote "using animals as exhibits has no place in modern entertainment". Former owner of Stocks Hotel Paul Armogie argued the Sark Sheep Racing Festival, which has taken place for 30 years, was "part of rural heritage" and said it would be a "tragedy" if it ended. The festival committee said it had not yet received a letter from Peta, but was seeking advice and would respond "in due course". Money raised at the event goes to a local charity subsidising prescriptions [BBC] 'Willing human participants' Jennifer White, associate director of media and communications at Peta UK, said the sheep racing was "archaic, outdated and cruel to sheep". ADVERTISEMENT She said: "Just because something is called a 'tradition' certainly does not make it right." "We know that sheep are incredibly sensitive, often timid animals and being forced to race in front of noisy crowds would likely be very stressful for them," she added. Ms White said: "It's 2025, we do not need to be treating animals like wind-up toys. "The best things is for the event to be cancelled, for the sheep to be taken out and for it to be replaced with willing human participants instead." Mr Armorgie responded: "If there was any whisper the sheep were being harmed or in any distress then it would not happen." He added that as an animal lover, if he thought there was risk, he would be the "first to shout about it". The race takes place annually in July and sees sheep race with teddy jockeys tied to their backs. ADVERTISEMENT It often sees almost 2,000 people travel to the island to spectate. All proceeds from the event go to the Professor Charles Saint Sark Medical Trust, which helped subsidise medical care in the island. In the past upwards of £30,000 has been raised. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to More on this story Related internet links
