Fund raising race marred by dodgy tactics

The famous annual mascot race was a highlight of North Yorkshire County Council employees’ fund raising efforts for Children in Need 2011.

The race and other events were held at County Hall, Northallerton on Friday 18 November.

Honor Byford, the council’s road safety team leader and newly elected vice chair of Road Safety GB, said: "Our traffic engineering team designed a challenging course with cones, physical challenges, limbo poles and a sprint section."

After heats to sort the slow from the even slower, the final race was run. The odds on favourite, Pudsey Bear, was rather shockingly eliminated for cheating by cutting corners. Spike the road safety hedgehog also used some dodgy tactics to get past the Seatbelt Sheriff but the eventual winner was Barry Whizz, the fastest school crossing patrol officer in the north (unless you know different….).

All in all, it was great fun and helped towards the £600+ raised at County Hall on the day.