ON your trotters, get set, go!

The Ham National has come to Ffos Las Racecourse, with energetic pigs taking to the track for a special race.

The porky event, which was held at the Trimsaran racecourse yesterday, was part of its Countryside Festival race day.

Wearing racing colours so the piggies could be told apart, the race saw them running towards a barrel of food 50 meters in front of them.

And the winning porkers, who had travelled from Pigs Folly in Powys, helped one visitor who had placed a bet on them to bring home the bacon.

Ffos Las general manager and clerk of the course, Tim Long, said the event provided great entertainment, both with horse racing and pig racing.

"We are a very rural area, so the Countryside Festival race day is a celebration of that.

"We had seen pig races elsewhere and it was something we just talked about," he said.

"The race was from one area to another and we had various heats.

"It was a bit of fun, and people could bet on which one they thought would win."

Mr Long said there was also an exciting charity race held on the day.

"We had seven horse races, and after the seventh race we had a race for riders who have never been jockeys before," he said.

"They rode a flat race and they all raised money for charity on the way, too.

"The amateur riders included Welsh opera singer and actress Shan Cothi, who raised funds for the Countryside Alliance."

Entertainment also included falconry and a parade of hounds to watch, plus demonstrations of stick making, fly tying and horse head collar platting.

Meirion Owen's Quack Pack provided duck herding with their border collies and comical Indian runner ducks.

Mr Long said they had a great crowd.

"I think we must have had around 4,000 people here.

"The weather was glorious," he said.

"All the hospitality tents, the marque and restaurants were full.

"Looking at the crowd, it has been a tremendous success.

"It has been very popular. This is very rural area with a strong farming community, so I think these events go down really well.

"And it is also great for those who are not from a farming background.

"They have all enjoyed the full spectacle.

"We could not be happier."

gill.roberts@swwmedia.co.uk