Backing a Winner:
Artwork launch at Doncaster Racecourse, 26 February 2010

In celebration of the change of finale venue this year, the Doncaster Book Award Committee wanted to mark this special occasion by doing something original! Hexthorpe Primary School suggested that as it was their arts week, would we commission a piece of artwork from them... we just couldn’t refuse!

The result was a unique art sculpture, the brainchild of the pupils and none other than "Lollipop man" superhero of the highway AKA Phil Sheppard, who is also known to the students at Hexthorpe under his alter ego as their Teacher! The piece took four days to construct using about 100 old books with inspiration from artists such as Banksy and Andy Goldsworthy, along with the cover of the Beatles album "Sgt Pepper". The jockey is made using "things we write with" like computer keys, pencils and pen tops, whilst the horseshoes were made by photographing twigs in the nearby park.

The unveiling took place after a lot of speculation that week, having promoted the work for forty-five minutes on the breakfast show on SINE FM there was much media interest, including from the stable of Frankie Dettori, Godolphin!. As a reward for their hard work the students were treated to a tour of Doncaster Racecourse, which included a trip to the jockeys' changing area and a mass weigh-in with lead saddle weights in the official weighing room.

The day ended with gifts of medals and racecourse souvenirs handed out by Sharon Bennett and Judith Day, who both made our day so special.

Finally Judith challenged the children to come up with a name for the horse and jockey and Gabrielle duly obliged with the genius... "Bookie" the horse and Frankie De-Story as the jockey!

Lesley Hurworth, Chair, DBA

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