Avenel pub scores trophy as ferret racing returns

AVENEL Imperial Hotel has taken home the Euroa Show’s prestigious “Choices Flooring by Thomsons Ferret Racing Cup”, thanks to a ferret named Sheila. Surrounded by a large crowd, Sheila was seen pounding the barrier repeatedly before the race began, desperate to make a start. On reaching the finish line in first place, the eager creature was so excited she turned around and ran back. Whitey’s Ferret Racing owner Martin White, who owns 29 “working” ferrets, said it was a return to form for Sheila. “She's been off a little bit, because she's been on heat,” he said. “She's a good ferret [but] you can never pick. “It's the luck of the draw, depending on how they perform, how they get out of bed.” Mr White has been operating Whitey’s for 14 years and returned to the Euroa Show after a successful debut last year. Avenel Imperial Hotel owner Yasheela Ram said she bet on Sheila because she shares a similar name with the ferret. “My name never fails, pretty much, whichever I put my name, Sheila never loses, Sheila only wins,” she said. Ms Ram, who took over the hotel eight months ago, won $1000, plus $500 for her chosen charity, Beyond Blue. She said the $1000 would go towards another ferret racing event, the Imperial Cup, which the hotel will host on November 1. Proceeds from that event will go to Avenel’s junior football and netball teams. “Come down, have a chilled beer and enjoy the atmosphere, and have a hearty meal with the locals around here,” Ms Ram urged in a message for Gazette readers. Some 25 Strathbogie Shire businesses sponsored a ferret or ferret race at this year’s show. Euroa Pharmacy won last year’s ferret racing cup.