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SEE VIDEO HERE: Wheely good village tradition
A QUIRKY village tradition has been revived in Great Glen and hundreds of people flocked to the streets to watch it.
The wheelbarrow race tradition, involving teams of two, race around the village with one person in a wheelbarrow usually wearing fancy dress, was last seen about 20 to 25 years ago.
But when Ben Moore, landlord of the Royal Oak pub, spoke to Andy Williamson about doing village events, the topic soon turned to the absent fun day.
Mr Williamson said: "I remember taking part in the race when I was about 15. Nobody's actually come up with a date of the last race but it varies between 20 and 25 years ago."
The pair organised the wheelbarrow race in aid of the Loros Hospice on August 22 and were delighted with the turnout, with 14 teams taking part and hundreds watching the action.
The race started outside the village hall and went down Main Street, past the Co-op and around the Village Green before following the route back through the village again.
Mr Williamson added: "I couldn't believe the turnout, it was great. There were some great costumes too. One pair even made their wheelbarrow look like a pirate ship. And we had another couple dressed up like a frog and a Frenchman."
One of the race entrants was David Newton-Sealy who was pushing the barrow with the 1979 Miss Great Glen - Rachel Trevor - inside.
Throughout the day there were refreshments and a marching band followed by a barbecue and live music at the Royal Oak.
Race winners Justin Crocker and Geoff Davies, who dressed-up in wet suits and snorkelling masks, received a bottle of champagne, a glass trophy and a bigger trophy will be kept in the pub with the winners' names engraved on it each year. All entrants received a souvenir medal for taking part.
Mr Williamson said: "We've really taken something on because we've already got people asking about next year so it needs to be bigger and better."
Adrian Walker, senior fundraiser for Loros, said: "It was a fabulous event and as you will probably see from the photo it attracted a lot of attention. It is anticipated that with the bucket collection, sponsorship, team entries plus the auction and barbecue at the Royal Oak, we will have raised more than 2,000."
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Weather for Market Harborough
Thursday 17 May 2012
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Temperature: 7 C to 12 C
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