1.
SV People arrive on foot and in carts (3 shots)
0.13

2.
GV Stands
0.17

3.
LV & CU PAN.. Kerosene oil cart race from start to finish (5 shots)
0.40

4.
LV & CU Crowd watch as woman driver gets prize (2 shots)
0.45

5.
GV & SV Elephants parade as crowd watch (2 shots)
0.54

6.
LV Start of elephant race
0.59

7.
SV & CU PAN..elephants racing
1.01

8.
CU Elephant ambling


9.
REAR V..Elephants racing
1.28

10.
SV Crowd watch as winner receivers award (3 shots)
1.34

11.
SV Elephant and trainer playing
1.42



Initials ES. 1740 ES. 1800



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: People flocked to opened a day at the races at Avissawella, Sri Lanka, on Sunday. They enjoyed what must be some of the world's most unusual events.

Among them were elephant races, events for oil wagons and carts drawn by bullocks, and a "sprint" -- on stilts.

Prizes were presented by Mrs. Divototawela, sister of the Prime Minister, Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

SYNOPSIS: Crowds flocked on foot and in bullock cart to the Talduwa Stadium this week. It's at Avissawella, in Sri Lanka. It might not be the best-known sports stadium in the world, but it's the scene of some of the most unusual events.

The race for bullock-drawn kerosene and oil carts isn't a recognised Olympic event, but it's an exciting spectacle for the people of Avissawella. After all, it's not every day you can watch your neighbourhood delivery man tearing up the track ahead of his business rivals.

And the winner was a woman driver!
Now the parade for the big race of the day -- in every sense.

They're off -- and there's close competition for the lead. It's an exciting race as the front-runners put on the pressure. Now the heat's really on as they roar round the track at -- well, it must be every bit of six miles an hour. But it looks as if the searing pace has been too much for some competitors.

In fact some are simply --all behind.

The awards were presented by Mrs. Divitotawela, sister of the Prime Minister, Mrs. Bandaranaike.

After the ???, a bit of showing off, as a trainer demonstrates how close he is to his elephant.