Healthcare charity Sue Ryder have announced that national retailer, Poundland are the new headline sponsor of the world’s largest mascot race, the ‘Mascot Gold Cup’ held each April at Wetherby Races.
Poundland have signed a three year sponsorship deal from 2020. The partnership is a major financial boost to the care Sue Ryder provides to people when it matters most in Yorkshire through Wheatfields Hospice in Leeds and Manorlands Hospice in Keighley.
The sponsorship also guarantees the future of one of the UKs most colourful sporting spectacles where fur flies as dozens of larger than life creatures race the final furlong in front of the racecourse crowd tackling six fences en-route. The Mascot Gold Cup has raised over £150,000 for Sue Ryder and a similar amount for other good causes over the last 15 years.
Community Fundraising Manager for Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, Andrew Wood who conceived the Mascot Gold Cup idea in 2006 and has being liaising on the event with Wetherby Races Sales and Marketing Manager Michelle Campbell ever since, is delighted that the event will continue. “Securing the sponsorship of a national retailer is a major coup. We are very grateful that Poundland are supporting one of our most loved fundraising events and are hoping that their high profile will help us attract a large field with Poundland’s own ‘Poundhound’ being one of them. We love to work alongside the team at Wetherby Races and this deal guarantees that for the next 3 years.”
Over the years mascots have come from as far as Germany and in 2015 the event set, and still holds, the Guinness World Record for most Mascots in a race with 125. That race was won by former Scotland, Liverpool and Leeds captain Gary McAlister.
The race is held over the final furlong at Wetherby and mascots must negotiate 6 fences including an open ditch and a mock water jump to go for glory.
In honour of Sue Ryder’s partnership with Poundland, a £1 entry fee has been launched for those pledging £100 or more fundraising for Sue Ryder. For a further £1 people can adopt a mascot for the day meaning any business, club or organisation can get involved. A video has also been produced of the highlights from the first 14 years including the photo finish where Eddie the Edgehog beat Zak the Zebra by a short spike. The event’s darkest day was when Lamby (part of a cricket double act with Beefy to promote British meat) was accidentally kidnapped in the boot of a car stolen on the evening following the race. Only lamby’s cricket boot was ever recovered.
The first Sue Ryder Mascot Gold Cup to be sponsored by Poundland will take place at Wetherby Racecourse Family Race Day on Sunday 26 April 2020. There are a number of entry options, including the £1 offer. Online entries are now open at sueryder.org/mascotgoldcup . People can also follow the Mascot Gold Cup on Facebook and Twitter @MascotGoldCup.
Link below to a video of the Sue Ryder Mascot Race Best Bits 2016-2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL1FuAiYkoA&feature=youtu.be
For more information regarding the Poundland Mascot Race please contact:
Andrew Wood – Community Fundraising Manager
Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, Keighley Road, Oxenhope, Keighley, BD22 9HJ
Tel: 01535 640176 M: 07786 273 718 Email: andrew.wood@sueryder.org
Back to Top