The Death of Dolly

 

 

Dolly the pony liked a drop of ale- but when in October, 1943 she won a £100 bet for her owner, by trotting from Werrington in Stoke-on-Trent to Blackpool in under 24 hours. She was given barley wine and whiskey. Mr Sydney Weston of Bark House farm, Hulme near Werrington, was at the reigns of a trap pulled by Dolly during the 20¾ hour marathon trot. He pocketed the winnings from fellow farmer Mr William Carter of Werrington and then put Dolly in to an honourable retirement. Alas there will be no more beer for Dolly as she died last week aged 27 (December 1962). The news set horse fanciers recalling the remarkable journey, on which as well as the owner; the pony pulled another passenger Mr Alfred Adams. An umpire, Mr Reginald Brown followed behind on his bicycle.