Active Donkey Award

ADA's Fifth Birthday

Hi there to all my long-eared pals (and their aurally challenged humans) out there. This is ADA, the Donkey Breed Society's very own Active Donkey, wishing you a Very Happy and Fun-filled New Year.

Yes, it's true! Blow up the balloons and hang out the bunting! Although I can hardly believe it, the Active Donkey Award Scheme has now been in existence for five years and, as part of the celebrations, we will be presenting for the very first time a beautiful new Fifth Year Rosette which will henceforth be won by any donkey successfully completing five years in the Scheme.

The rosette which is made of velvet will, I'm sure, make a handsome and much-admired adornment for any stable - or living room - wall and the first proud recipients are Polly and Zebedee who live with their human, Margaret Bates, in the lovely county of Gloucestershire.

Over the years, these two busy donkeys must have given so much pleasure to a great many people, both children and adults. In the last twelve months alone they have taken part in Christmas services, Palm Sunday processions, charity collections, carnivals, school visits and much more. Very well done, Polly and Zebedee and keep up the good work!

As everyone must know by now, any donkey whose human is a D.B.S. member, junior or adult, can participate in the ADA Scheme and all you have to do to be successful is just take part in eight different activities between 1st August and the following 31st July. You can join at any time during the year and anything you have done during that twelve month period, even things that you did before your actual joining date, will count towards your Award.

A list of donkeys that did just that and have achieved Awards in the year 2003-4 now follows: -

1st Year

• Barnaby, Gypsy, Jim Lad, Popeye and Sooty, all entered by Miss Jane Allen
• Westra Stella entered by Mrs S. Bell,
• Joseph entered by Mrs O. Brown
• Lil'Donkey entered by Mrs D. Hirst
• Shaun entered by Mrs A. Knowles
• Porridge entered by Mrs D. Milligan
• Josephina entered by Misses Jade and Opal Weaver

2nd Year

• Molly entered by Miss Jane Allen
• Happy Valley Just-August and Bertie of Brownroad entered by Mrs O. Brown
• Maude entered by Mrs S. Orford
• Merdoc entered by Miss Opal Weaver

3rd Year - PLAQUE WINNERS

• "Son of Jacob" entered by Vivienne, Mark and Sarah Carleton-Andrews
• John Barleycorn entered by Mrs J. Mackenzie and Mrs J. Peel
• Moses entered by Miss Jade Weaver

4th Year

• Mairi entered by Mrs A. Warr-Wood

5th Year