A FORMER champion penny farthing rider will join fellow enthusiasts to race around the Moor.

Australian competitor Nicky Armstrong wants to take part in the Knutsford Great Race, which is held every 10 years.

“It’s just fantastic that she’s signed up,” said Glynn Stockdale, who takes part in the race and helps to organise it.

“It’s a long way for her to come from Australia.”

Nicky is the former women’s champion in penny farthing racing.

She won a competition in Evandale, Tasmania – regarded as the biggest event in penny farthing racing - in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002.

Nicky took part in the last Knutsford Great Race in 2000 and won the women’s section.

“She was head and shoulders above everyone else,” said Glynn.

“But we never thought we’d see her again here.”

The 2010 Knutsford Great Race will take place next year on Sunday, September 5.

It is already attracting interest from countries including New Zealand and the Czech Republic.

Mr Stockdale said organisers had even received interest from people who had never ridden a penny farthing.

“It’s getting out of hand,” he said.

“We’ve got a heck of a lot of entries.”

The Great Race will feature cycles including original Dandy Horses, Boneshakers and Penny Farthings from the middle of the 19th century.

There should be 50 teams of between one and four riders.

Each entrant will attempt to complete the most circuits of the 1km course in three hours.

Glynn said organisers were now looking for a celebrity to start the race.

They have already booked a man who owns a cannon to help fire the stating noise.

“He’s delighted to come and he’s really taken with it,” said Glynn.

The Great Race was first held on the Heath in 1980.

There were 15 teams and three solo riders.

Ten years later the organisers held the event again and 16 teams and nine solo riders took part.

In 2000 the race moved to the Moor because of concerns about traffic and policing.

Actor David Soul, of Starsky and Hutch fame, fired the starting gun for the 76 entrants.

Unfortunately, the race was hit by torrential rain, which made the conditions difficult.

But it was covered on satellite sports television.

Next year’s event will support the charity shelterbox.org