Sark’s Millennium Field might not be quite as grand as the refurbished Ascot, but it hosted a major race event on Saturday. Marion Falle reports. Pictures by Steve Sarre

THE popularity of Sark’s annual sheep races just grows and grows.

This year’s event, held on Saturday, attracted 1,300 people from Guernsey, with Sark Shipping putting on extra sailings to cope with the volume.

More came from Jersey on Ascheduled service and scores of others arrived in private vessels from both islands.

Organising committee chairman Pete Cunneen said he was overwhelmed by the response.

‘More and more people are coming every year, mainly because it’s been recommended by friends,’ he said. ‘It’s now becoming a real Channel Island event, which is a wonderful boost for Sark.’

Once again the sun shone on the race-goers, many of whom had entered into the spirit of a day at the races with Ascot-type headgear for the ladies and sheep-themed waistcoats for the men.

There were prizes for the best hats and Sark resident Emma Rose won for the third time in a row with her World Cup-themed titfer.

In second place was Helen Marshall, from Lytham St Anne’s, with a hat designed around a gambolling/gambling theme.

Later in the afternoon, Mrs Marshall’s husband, Dion, took the prize for the best waistcoat.

The couple, who are holidaying in Sark, planned their trip around the sheep races and said they were having a fantastic day.

Runner-up in the waistcoat stakes was Phil Neild, from Guernsey.

There were six races, with runners ‘owned’ and races sponsored by island businesses and individuals.

Lively names had been created, many of which had a sheep theme, much to the amusement of the compere, Island FM’s Richard Harding.

The Tote, run by ‘Dodgy’ Dave Cocksedge, was well supported and the runners were supplied by Dave Scott’s racing ‘stable’.

As well as the racing, there was lots of family fun to be had with stalls and games.

No race day would be complete without food and drink and there was that aplenty, with oysters and champagne, strawberries and cream and a pig roast as well as a burger bar, tea tent and bazaar.In between races, the crowd was entertained by Guernsey’s Youth Theatre Singers.

Holidaymakers Michael Luck and Sue Basnett were charged with the difficult task of judging the Miss Sark Princess competition.

Ten lovely young ladies, aged between five and 10, were competing for the coveted title and the opportunity to accompany Miss Sark Carnival in her carriage at the carnival in August.

Compere Paul Armorgie handled the event with his usual aplomb and the winner was nine-year-old Amber Dewe.

The afternoon ended rather damply for the island’s Seneschal, Reg Guille, who bravely volunteered to go into the stocks – all in a good cause, of course.

* All money raised by the event goes to the Professor Saint Medical Fund, which subsidises the cost of prescribed medicines for residents.