A LUCKY Evening Star reader today has the chance to name one of Britain's youngest Suffolk Punch horses.The four-day-old colt foal is one of only around 300 registered Suffolk Punch horses in the country and is a proud addition to the region's heritage.
A LUCKY Evening Star reader today has the chance to name one of Britain's youngest Suffolk Punch horses.
The four-day-old colt foal is one of only around 300 registered Suffolk Punch horses in the country and is a proud addition to the region's heritage.
The foal even has royal connections as it is a brother to the filly given to Queen Elizabeth II last year.
He was born at a farm in Old Norwich Road, which is run by Tom Walne, 70, and his partner Sandy Hewett, 57.
After more than 11 months of waiting - and two sleepless nights - the pair were over the moon when the foal finally arrived on Thursday
Mr Walne said: "We were up for two weeks waiting to see if he would be born.
"As soon as I knew the foal was coming, I called Sandy. It was all over in seconds. I had the phone in one hand and was cleaning the sack off the foal with the other.
"I am very, very happy. I am over the moon. It's something I was waiting 11-and-a-half months for!"
The foal was born to Mr Walne's 13-year-old breeding mare Golden Harvest Girl, who is affectionately known as Gertie.
Gertie and the foal's three-year-old sister Whitton Daisy live at the Old Norwich Road farm, together with Mr Walne's 16-year-old working mare Milden Winter Star.
But the foal's one-year-old sister Whitton Poppy is now living at Hampton Court, which was given to the Queen by members of the Suffolk Horse Society last year.
Mr Walne and Miss Hewett are
hoping a Star reader will come up with a good idea for the foal's name.
Miss Hewett said: "We are hoping for something sensible - a proper name!
"Our girls were named after flowers, but you can't have a boy named after a flower. We didn't know whether to go for a herb or something woody or a man's name. Hopefully someone will have a bright idea."
N Anyone with a bright idea for the foal's name should put it on a postcard, complete with reader's name, address and phone number and send them to Evening Star newsdesk, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.
Entries should be in by Friday April 23.
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