PICTURES: The World Hen Racing Championship in Bonsal

With more than a quarter of a century of history behind the fowl event this year’s race took place on Saturday and did not disappoint the 600 supporters who lined the streets to cheer on their favoured hen including a hen party who named the chicken after her husband to be.

The Barley Mow, in Bonsall, hosted the infamous race and organiser Collete Dewhurst said: “It was such a brilliant day and everyone there had a great time.

“In one of the qualifying races one hen stopped off for a dust bath mid race but still managed to take first place.”

Hen racing in the area goes back well over 100 years when local villages competed against each other in the summer for fun.
Chickens are raced over a track of approx 15 metres, and they are given three minutes in each heat to cross the finish line.

It is fast and furious, although any fighting between hens is strictly forbidden and can result in disqualification.

Last year’s winner and world record holder ‘Cooked It’ - training under eight-year-old Jack Allsopp - did not get into a flap and managed to beat her personal best and came in at 3.7 seconds over the 10 yard course.