Reactions on the Sheep Distance Throwing Record Breaking event.

Poor dolly flying through the air in panic and breaking a couple of legs on landing.

I personally think it is a great publicity stunt, and praise their creativity in Smithfield, but not everyone agrees...

Some article extracts hereunder:

Empangeni spca says:

Sheep throwing contest

The NSPCA has worked tirelessly on the issue to determine if real sheep will be used. This has led to the entire matter being placed in legal hands.

A pertinent point is that the NSPCA is unable to obtain comment or confirmation as to whether live or dummy sheep will be used.

If the whole thing turns out to be a publicity stunt, to raise the anger of the public, the NSPCA will have spent a great deal of time and money on the issue which could have been spent on matters that would help living creatures directly. If the whole thing is a hoax to draw attention to the festival, then the method of doing so is condemned outright as immoral, unethical and downright callous.

The NSPCA expects the co-operation of anyone we approach on whatever matter involves animals. When people shy away and will not give comment or blatantly refuse to assist, we have to ask ourselves why.

The whole idea is disgusting. That anyone can come up with the concept and then put it forward as if it would attract people to an event speaks for itself and speaks volumes about blatant disregard for animals, for people’s sensitivities and it smacks of the worst kind of reckless behaviour. This includes the possibility that the entire event is a hoax or publicity stunt.

It puts horrific ideas into people’s minds and perpetuates the idea that animals can be used for fun, entertainment and are simply unfeeling objects – which they are not.

The NSPCA reiterates that whether this is a hoax, a publicity stunt or a genuine planned event, all involved need to be advised that the concept is irresponsible, disgusting and an absolute disgrace to our country and our people. They are without conscience.

Update: 27 June 2006

"This is to let you know that we are not going to throw a live Sheep (Animal) at our BibberChill fest on 1 July 2006. The actual plan is to get the SPCA here and hand them a donation. This is the only way to get the people and the SPCA here.” (sic)

These are the words in the fax of John Melville, Chairman of the BibberChill Fest, replying to the NSPCA’s attorney.

He added: "We are an animal loving community. We know that we got a lot of publicity in the media and we appreciate that."

The NSPCA and the media does not appreciate that and places on record that no animal loving person or community would even contemplate the concept of an activity such as the throwing of sheep. Putting the idea into people’s heads is a sick example of what not to do. Upsetting people at the thought of this activity is disgraceful – and the blatant and deliberate waste of NSPCA time was immoral and unjustifiable.

You have wasted our time, taken up valuable staff resources and been both unreasonable and unresponsive until such time as you were contacted by our attorney.

If the NSPCA charged the organisers for time wasted, they would be well out of pocket. If they are animal lovers, as they claim, then let them have a conscience about all the animals that could have been helped whilst the NSPCA battled to get hold of the people boasting publicly about their sheep-throwing and now gloating that it resulted in lots of publicity.

We believe that public opinion is also firmly on our side when we say to Mr Melville and the Bibberfest that this whole saga has demonstrated atrocious behaviour, pathetic excuses and that those involved should be ashamed of themselves.

The NSPCA is disgusted.

Capeargus states:

Woolly bullies
The boere are gathering at Smithfield in the Free State next week for the Bibberfees, and the pre-publicity has the NSPCA all a-twitter.

That's because it advertises a sheep-throwing contest involving a catapult. "A world record bid has been given as the excuse for this activity," says the animal welfare organisation, which reports that its tireless efforts have failed to show whether or not real sheep are to be used.

"Whether this is a hoax, a publicity stunt or a genuine planned event ... the concept is irresponsible, disgusting and an absolute disgrace to our country and our people. They are without conscience," it rages.

And in Die_Volksblad:

Bibberfees se (sk)aap uit mou
Jun 28 2006 12:52:15:770AM  - (SA)  
René-Jean van der Berg

SMITHFIELD. – ’n Groot opskudding is veroorsaak toe die feeskomitee van die Bibberfees op die dorp ’n skaapgooikompetisie bekend gemaak het en dié reklamefoefie het ’n onaangename nadraai gehad.

Die belangstelling was so groot dat dit oor die wêreld heen reaksie ontlok het toe ’n Britse koerant ook oor die skaapgooikompetise geskryf en die Nasionale Dierebeskermingsvereniging (NDBV) met regstappe gedreig het.

Een van die groot borge, Woolworths, het selfs sy steun aan die fees onttrek, aangesien die kompetisie nie hul goedkeuring wegdra nie.

Dié stap het verskeie “groenes” met vreugde gelaat toe mnr. Hugo Lemon van Woolworths die maatskappy se onttrekking bekend gemaak het. Lemon sê hoewel dit ’n reklamegrap is, is dit een waaraan Woolworths nie deel wil hê nie.

Mnr. John Melville, voorsitter van die feeskomitee, moes egter die aap uit die mou laat toe ’n prokureur hom namens die NDBV kontak. Dit het eers tóé na vore gekom dat die kompetisie eintlik ’n bemarkingsgrap is.

Mnr. Del Jones, senior inspekteur van die NDBV, sê hulle het ’n faks van Melville ontvang waarin die rede vir die bekendmaking van die skaapgooikompetisie verduidelik is.

“Melville se verklaring was dat daar geensins ’n lewende of ’n dooie skaap gegooi sal word nie. Hy sê dit was slegs ’n plan om die DBV op die fees te kry om op die dag van die fees ’n skenking te oorhandig.”

Jones sê verder dit was roekeloos van die feeskomitee om mense onnodig te ontstel. “Al die ondersoeke was ook ’n blatante mors van die NDBV se tyd en die reklame was oneties en ongeregverdig.”

’n Ontstelde Melville het op sy beurt aan Volksblad gesê dit was alles ’n plan om ’n groot opkoms na die fees te verseker en sodoende geld vir die DBV in te samel. Hy sê hulle wou ook die DBV op die dorp hê om sekere mense in die gemeenskap wat hul diere mishandel, vas te vat.

“In die verlede het Smithfielders die DBV met klagtes oor dieremishandeling op die dorp geskakel. Die DBV het altyd egter die verskoning gehad dat ’n klag by die plaaslike polisie ingedien moet word en dat Smithfield te ver is om ’n beampte te stuur. Ons het toe dié plan van die skaapgooikompetisie beraam om die DBV hier te kry.”

Melville sê Smithfield se boere lewer van die beste wol en vleis, en “hoekom sal ons nou só ’n dom ding staan en aanvang?”

“Die DBV het ons soos honde behandel en al wat ons wou doen, is om vir hulle ’n donasie te gee. Hoewel ons ’n skrywe aan die onttrekte borg gerig het, wil húlle ook niks meer met ons te doen hê nie.

“Die bestuur van die feeskomitee moet nou besluit of daar wel tóg ’n donasie aan die DBV gegee sal word. Ten minste weet die DBV nou hoe óns voel as húlle nie op ons klagtes reageer nie.”