Ely Potato Race winners have real pedigree

THE chips were down in Ely on Saturday as teams lined up for the inaugural Ely Potato Race.

The teams swapped the traditional batons for 20kg bags of potatoes as they raced from the Market Place up to the top of the High Street and back.

Teams from Sainsbury’s, Star Radio and the Ely farmers market took part but the win was taken by the team from PJ Lee and Sons, of Highflyer Farm, who lived up to their namesake, the famous 18th Century stallion Highflyer who was undefeated in 14 races and went on to sire a number of champions.

They took home the winner’s cup, �150 in prize money plus the pot for charity which came out to �1,000

Isle of Ely director Oliver Boutwood said: “The potato run was fast and furious, and all the teams ran a spirited race, with congratulations to PJ Lee and Sons who came out on top”.

The race was backed by 20 local farmers who all donated the potatoes for the race and gave their support to help bolster the charity prize.

NFU county chairman Bob Lawrence said: “The Potato Race provided a fresh ingredient for what is always a wonderful celebration of food and farming over the harvest festival weekend.”