BANK Holiday crowds lined Gumstool Hill in Tetbury on Monday (May 30) for the annual Woolsack Races, this time with an additional cycle sprint.

Organised by the Tetbury Woolsack Team, the races see men, women and children sprinting 240 yards up and down the town’s steepest hill, hauling woolsacks weighing 40 lbs (women) and 60 lbs (men) on their backs.

James Cook, with a woolsack attached to his waist, won the first ever cycle sprint, sponsored by cycle and coffee shop Veloton, in an impressive 27.69 seconds though second placed Francis Eddolls ensured it was an edge-of-the-seat photo finish, coming in just one sixth of a second behind.

Throughout the day, there were numerous qualifying heats, while spectators could also enjoy a special charity auction and performances from the Swindon Brass Band, as well as the various stalls selling food, drink and souvenirs.

Once the foot races commenced, it was a team from St Mary’s Primary School that won the children’s relay, while George Vets won the women’s (4.00.53), before the Royal Oak pub won the men’s (3.49.19) and mixed relays (4.12.06).

Joel Hicks, founder of charitable organisation Always With a Smile, has competed in the men’s singles race for the last seven years, but this year injury meant he had to be a little more innovative.

“I’ve had an ankle op and shoulder op in the last five months,” he said. “So, I am towing my sack. I can’t lift my shoulders above my head, so I can’t lift the sack otherwise my surgeon will go crazy so that’s why I’m towing it; so we’ll see how it goes.”

In previous years, Joel explained he has dressed up as Darth Vader, a Storm Trooper, the back-end of a pantomime horse, a Native American, a man in a leotard and Rocky, but to symbolise his current injuries, this year he was coated in bubble wrap.

“This is one of the toughest races out there,” he continued. “Make no mistake about that. The winners are going to be doing this in about 50 seconds, and that’s an impressive speed.”

He wasn’t far wrong, with men’s singles winner Nathan Barrowclough completing the course in 50.63 seconds, retaining his 2015 title, while Lucy Collins set a women’s all-time record finishing in 1.04.72 minutes.

The biggest cheer of the day, however, came for Mike Collins, nicknamed ‘Snail Male’ – who at 70-years-old was the most senior competitor, celebrating completing the course with a rum and coke.