A MASCOT event has raised £15,000 for Sue Ryder – which runs Manorlands hospice at Oxenhope.

More than 70 mascots lined up for the 16th annual Gold Cup, at Wetherby racecourse.

The event, sponsored by Poundland, is billed as the biggest race of its kind in the world.

Participants, who can compete wearing their own costume or 'adopt' one for the day, have to negotiate six fences and a final furlong which is raced in front of the grandstand.

Winner was Pure Lettings Pony. In second place was 15-year-old Archie Gill, from Keighley, with Croco-dinosaur, and third was Suzie Sheep, representing Yorkshire Young Farmers. Prize for the last mascot home without stopping went to Crazy Crayola.

Before the race, the mascots took part in a parade where punters could place bets on their favourites, and a number of prizes were up for grabs.

Ernie the Owl, from Leeds Hospitals' charity, was named best mascot on parade, while an award for the most entertaining went to West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service's Blaze Bear.

A mascot representing the Snooty Fox pub at Oakworth was the biggest individual fundraiser for Sue Ryder, coining in £840, thanks to bar staff member Jenny Newton. And a team of 12 mascots led by Kelly Baxter, from Eastburn, raised over £2,000 between them.

Andrew Wood, community fundraising manager at Manorlands, says: "The Sue Ryder Mascot Gold Cup has become a key part of the Wetherby Races family day and provides brilliant entertainment, while also helping raise funds for worthwhile causes.

"Thank you to our sponsor, Poundland, Wetherby racecourse for hosting the event and to everyone who took part in the race or came along to cheer on their favourite mascot.

"The funds raised for Sue Ryder will help us continue to provide expert and compassionate palliative care to people living with life-limiting conditions."

Since its inception, the event has raised over £190,000 for Sue Ryder’s palliative care and bereavement support.

Entry is already open for next year’s Mascot Gold Cup, on April 28.

For more details and to sign up, visit sueryder.org/mascotgoldcup.

Manorlands supports patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families at the hospice and in the community, across an area covering Craven, Airedale and Wharfedale as well as parts of Bradford.

All services are free to patients and their loved ones, but it costs more than £10,000 a day to keep the hospice doors open.