Swede taste of victory as Cherie catches rivals on hop at Bunny Grand National

They hopped to Harrogate from far and wide in search of glory and the carrot in their sights was the title of Rabbit Grand National champion 2012.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Jan 2012, 08:41 BST

Bunnies came from as far Scandinavia to jump over hurdles against the clock during the 90th Burgess Premier Small Animal Show at the Yorkshire Event Centre, which attracted thousands of visitors over the weekend.

But there could only be one winner and, by bounding around 10-hurdle course in only 11 seconds, rapid rabbit Cherie claimed victory for Sweden for the second year in a row.

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The unique competition – the only one of its kind in the UK – saw the specially-trained rabbits hopping over hurdles up to one metre in height, during a timed display of agility.

Most of the bunnies were flown in from Sweden, where rabbit showjumping has been a popular sporting spectacle since the 1970s.

Show spokesman Jason Madeley said: “It has caused a lot of fun and excitement among the crowds. It’s not what you expect to see on a Sunday in Harrogate.”

Dubbed the “Crufts of the small animal world”, the Burgess Premier Small Animal Show, saw 3,000 gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rabbits and rats gather under one roof to compete in the two-day event.

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