Charity Hog Racing @ The Mason's

13 January 2007

Customers at the Mason's Arms pub in Devauden were treated to an exciting evening of hog racing on 13th January. Eight hogs competed in gruelling series of flat races while punters chanced their luck at predicting the winners.

The Official Race Starter for the evening, Tabby, explained the inspiration behind the innovative idea, "Chepstow's got a new night club so we needed something a bit different to bring in the punters. Chepstow's got lap dancing - but we've got hog racing!"

The event was organised to raise funds for the charity Children With Leukaemia. Organiser Brian Phillips, landlord of the Mason's Arms in Devauden, said, "We raise money for Children With Leukaemia every year and the response from local people is always fantastic. We started this year's collection by carol singing around local pubs. Several of my pub's regulars volunteered to have their hair shaved off in return for donations and we have had some generous individual contributions. We haven't tried Hog Racing before but it turned out to be a great success. Over £400 was raised on the night and the combined total raised over Christmas and New Year is nearly £1000. Thanks to everyone who has helped out with these events and many, many thanks to everyone who donated money to help Children With Leukaemia."

Please note: no pigs were harmed during the evening (not including the ham sandwiches and pork scratchings consumed by the race-goers).

Click on any of the pictures below to see an enlarged version. Notice the clear photographic evidence of hog tampering in the lower left corner.