October 5, 2010
ABC South West Victoria (Watch the video!)
by Jeremy Lee

The Ferret Cup is becoming something of an institution in Warrnambool with the event now in its fourth year as a part of the Celebrage festival for Victorian Seniors Week.

Once again Lake Pertobe was the setting for the race, but this year there was some new infrastructure in the form of some slightly larger PVC tubes and a special box which had been built on the end of the track.

The tubes had also been, er, 'seasoned' by having chicken carcasses dragged through them. Apparently.

Regular competitor Minnie Hogan was back with a box of ferrets which this year contained Elvys, Sisal, and last year's winner Girly.

As in previous years, Minnie had done absolutely no preparation leaving it up to the ferrets to work out what was required of them.

An expected challenger failed to show so it came down to Minnie's three ferrets to battle things out which they did over a number of heats.

Archie Graham Centre Co-ordinator Lorraine English introduced the ferrets to the gaggle of school kids who were there to watch before race caller Trent Hill took on the difficult job of commentating a race you can't really see.

As usual there was some confusion as to who was doing what, but eventually last year's winner Girly poked her face out of the opposite end of the tube before the others and was thus crowned the winner.

Minnie took home another trophy to add to the prize collection which is rapidly growing - as she said, 'If I win this year I'll buy a cabinet to display the trophies'.

There was also a tiny sash for Girly, although there won't be any special treats as a result of her win.