Success through sport

Betfair, the world’s biggest betting community, has recruited five birds of prey to bird-vertise their Ryder Cup betting offering.  The Betfair Birdies, made up of an eight year-old Ferruginous Eagle called Olga and a family of Harris Hawks, have been in-flight training for the past two weeks in the run up to The Ryder Cup.  

 Europe, already odds-on favourites at 8-11, will be given an extra boost over the US (available at 9-5) as the feathered friends swoop in front of the public on the golf course whilst carrying the latest betting odds on the three-day event.  Supporters will also be able to send messages of support to create their own banners for the Betfair Birdies to fly by.

Richard Bloch from Betfair said:  “We all know that the players will be looking for birdies and eagles, but I’m not sure they’ll be expecting ones carrying messages of support.  The Betfair Birdies have been in training for the past couple of weeks so by the time we get to the first tee off we’re confident that they will create quite a talking point at the Newport course.”

Bird handler Trevor Smith said:  “The birds have been hand-reared and normally perform at shows or in films, but this is certainly one of their most unique jobs.  The training has been good and the birds are raring to stretch their wings across Celtic Manor and take on a Tiger.”

Trevor Smith and his handlers at Animals Work have had over 20 years experience with birds of prey supplying hand-reared birds to the film and TV industry.

To follow the Betfair Birdies’ “tweets” and pass on your messages of support to team Europe (or US) visit www.twitter.com/BetfairBirdies.