Race records tumble, while Tetbury tarts sell like hot cakes (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Race records tumble, while Tetbury tarts sell like hot cakes

WORLD records were beaten as this year's Woolsack Races drew thousands of visitors to Tetbury.

Now in its 31st year the Bank Holiday Monday event attracted competitors from across Europe.

Runners took on the 225-metre Gumstool Hill course between the Royal Oak and The Crown Inn, with the female competitors carrying a 35lb sack and the men 60lb.

Visitors to the town found a wide variety of stalls, exhibits and entertainers to keep them amused before and during the races.

Jester Ken Gray added colour to the street scene as he and his assistant, the No 1 Pixie, greeted visitors while collecting money for local charities.

The former Tetbury resident, who now lives in Wales, was asked to sound the klaxon to start the races, the first time in his 15-years visiting the event that he had been asked to do so.

He said: "It looks better this year than it has the last couple of years. People have been very generous this year.

"We will keep coming back as long as they want us. We look forward to it." The men's team race between Tetbury Rugby Club 1st Team and a foursome from the University of Bristol International Students opened the racing, with the rugby side triumphing.

Bristol student Nils Salingue, from Heidelberg, Germany, only entered after a neighbour suggested it.

He said: "It was totally crazy, there are no words to describe it."

The first world record to fall was in the men's individual race, where three times previous winner Nathan Barraclough reclaimed his title with a time of 52 secs, beating the previous record of 53.87 secs held by the absent champion Nicko Dalton.

Nathan, a student at Sheffield University who plays rugby for the army, said: "It was really great. I didn't expect to beat the record but I'm thrilled."

Charlie's Angels claimed the second world record of the day by winning the ladies team competition.

The quartet's time of 4mins 18.03 seconds was too good for Malmesbury Maidens and shaved 38 seconds off the existing record.

Team captain Charlie John, From Tetbury, said: "It looked like a good laugh. I did the uphill in practice and decided I was definitely going to do the downhill in the race!

"It was good fun. We will have to do it again next year."

Marie Cohen claimed the ladies' individual title in a time of 1 min 23.69 seconds, narrowly beating Charlotte Pound by two seconds. Defending champion and world record holder Zoe Dixon was in Mexico and unable to compete.

Marie, who was running for the third year, said: "It's been getting harder every year.

"I think I've just been getting more unfit, but I'm very happy."

Tetbury Rugby Club continued its stranglehold on the men's team event, easily seeing off the challenge of local rivals Malmesbury Rugby Club, which failed to make it to the final.

This year the Tetbury 1st team, in 3 minutes 13.69 seconds, defeated a Tetbury Veterans team, which finished in 3 minutes 49 seconds.

Winning captain Tim Shute said: "I'm really pleased. It's just been an excellent day. It's really good for the town and a great day out."

All the money raised during the day will be donated to local causes, with 50 percent going to Tetbury Hospital and the rest split between other organisations in the town.

An auction held by Humbert's Estate Agents and Auctioneers of Tetbury raised about £2,500.

The sale of a signed copy of Prince Charles' book, The Garden at Highgrove, plus two tickets to tour the gardens, raised £650 from an anonymous bidder.

The chairman of the Woolsack Day organising committee, Peter Hodgson, was happy with how the event went, saying: "It's been a good day."

BLOB: The competition run by the Standard in conjunction with Calcot Manor Hotel to find the best recipe for a Tetbury Tart was won by Clare Walsh.

Tarts baked from her recipe completely sold out at a stall run by Calcot Manor's general manager Paul Sadler, with proceeds going to charity.

The recipe was judged the best from 20 received, although 600 enquiries were initially made about the competition.

Mr Sadler said: "It was outstanding because it used local produce and it's very easy to replicate well and consistently.

"It can be sold hot or cold and is very versatile."