“Brace yourself, Suffolk Show – I’m primed and ready to win!”

Ipswich Star: Tractor Boy is in training for the 'Mascot's Race' at the Suffolk Show.Tractor Boy is in training for the 'Mascot's Race' at the Suffolk Show. (Image: Archant)

“Brace yourself, Suffolk Show – I’m primed and ready to win!”

That was the warning Tractor Boy issued to his rivals ahead of the fiercely-contested Mascot Derby at the Suffolk Show tomorrow.

Tractor Boy, who is this newspaper’s official mascot for Ipswich Town Football Club, has declared himself as one of the ante-post favourites, warning: “I’m taking no prisoners.”

The Mascot Derby at the Suffolk Show has been brought back by popular demand after a hugely successful inaugural event last year.

Ipswich Star: Tractor Boy is in training for the 'Mascot's Race' at the Suffolk Show.Tractor Boy is in training for the 'Mascot's Race' at the Suffolk Show. (Image: Archant)

The race is a fun obstacle challenge for business mascots and takes place in the President’s Ring at 5.30pm tomorrow.

Mascots will have to hurdle bales of straw and could even be hit by wet sponges thrown by spectators.

Tractor Boy has entered and his opponents on the starting line are set to include ITFC mascot pair Bluey and Crazee and others such as Benny the Bale, Speedy Gone Garbage, Declan the Donkey, Penny the Pig and Eric the Ear.

But our mascot has endured intensive training. Since banishing the blues after Town’s play-off defeat to Norwich, he has been allegedly spotted in the French Alps for some serious hill sessions, altitude training in Kenya and learning raw survival skills in the Amazon rainforest.

Yesterday, he could be seen training in more familiar surroundings in Christchurch Park and outside the Town Hall in Ipswich.

Tractor Boy said: “Some may think Ipswich Town’s season suffered a heartbreaking finale, but I’m ready to give every Blues fan a huge celebratory encore.

“I had my scouts watch last year’s race and have seen the footage. Suffolk Young Farmers’ mascot Supermoo won the race, but he or she better super-moove out of my way because that title is mine.”

See a video on our website of Tractor Boy undergoing intensive training outside Ipswich’s Town Hall.