Tribute to Dolly.

Evening Sentinel. Saturday, April 24th 1993

Pony's Blackpool trot traps gambling farmer.

Sydney Weston pictured at Werrington with his pony Dolly and
Alfred Adams, right who travelled with him to Blackpool. On the
left is Reginald Brown who cycled behind them as umpire.

No-one is ever likeley to challenge the record of a farmer who traveled by pony and trap from the Potteries to Blackpool in well under 24 hours-just to win a £100 bet.

This memorable feat was accomplished half-a-century ago by Sydney Weston, of Bark
House Farm,Werrington, and his six year old pony Dolly, who together completed the
journey in 20 hours 45 minutes.

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Friend.

Mr Weston took a friend with him for company, while cycling behind the trap in the roll of umpire was Mr Reginald Brown an employee of another Werrington farmer Mr Carter who lost the wager. A cutting from the Weekly Sentinel of October 1942 records that the pony was given four rests during the trip, including one of 2 1/2 hours, when the animal was wrapped in a blanket. According to Mr Weston's friend, Mr Alfred Adams, the pony never showed any signs of fatigue during the journey of nearley 100 miles and seemed to be as fit as a racehorse. He said that Dolly trotted into Blackpool on the Sunday looking as fresh as she did when starting out from Werrington the previous afternoon.

Dedicated to my late father inlaw and friend Mr Reginald Brown
(1923-1993).