Moffat hosts first town-centre sheep racing competition Published duration 10 August 2012

media caption Moffat, in Dumfriesshire, is staging what is believed to be the first ever town centre sheep racing competition in Scotland

What is believed to be the first ever town-centre sheep racing competition in Scotland will be held in a Dumfriesshire town this the weekend.

Moffat is staging the event on the high street in what organisers hope will become an annual competition.

Six heats will be run and the winner of each heat will run in the final, the winner taking the overall title.

The sheep will race with a dummy jockey on its back made of wool and negotiate a series of hurdles.

The public will be able to bet on the animals.

Thomas MacDonald, Moffat Promotions Group, said: "It is a new event for us in Moffat and we believe it is the first in Scotland to be held on public streets.

Wool industry

"It is very popular down south and we thought an event like this would really tie in with the town, the community and the history going back over the farming and wool industry.

"We hope it will become an annual event, not just one day but extend to two days and eventually make a week long feature of it."

Traditional breeds off the hills will race against continental breeds.

Retired shepherd Joe MacRobert said: "We will get them to run alright, it will be no problem.