Running hot and cold in Thames

The Splash 'n Dash contest at the Thames races. Photo / Christine Cornege

Hundreds of children provided the crowd at the Thames races yesterday with entertainment of the two-legged variety while the track's normal four-legged competitors enjoyed a few minutes' break.

The Splash 'n Dash contest challenged youngsters of all ages to race down the straight with water bottles on their heads without spilling the contents.

Thames Jockey Club secretary Jim McConnell said the race, sponsored by the SpringFresh water company, was always popular with the adult punters and was great fun to watch.

"It's one of the kiddies' things we put on and they love it. They have to run so many metres with water on their head and the one who has the most water in it at the end wins the prize."

Mr McConnell said about a thousand children were among the 5000 people at the race meeting.