Junior Competition for 2010
ARE YOU AN 'AJ' ?
It could be a donkey you own or a donkey you can visit that belongs to someone else. Showing can count as an activity but only once, so it is up to you to think about some other ways you can share your life with a donkey, and send me a folder with pictures and words showing the things you have done.
Closing date is 1st September 2010 and again there will be a competition rosette for each entrant and a prize for the top three. Age will be taken into consideration, and your entries displayed at the Donkey Breed Society Annual General Meeting in November.
Send your entries to:
Junior Website Competition. Bryn Celyn, Llanfyllin. Powys. SY22 5NE
Winning entries for the 2009 Website Competition to write a story about a donkey, imaginary or real.
1st Prize winner: Hannah Trezona-Phillips, age 10 from Cornwall
When I went to Sussex with Mum, Dad and Zippin (mum's quarter horse) I met a donkey called Lancelot? who belongs to my friend Tabitha. During the week I rode and helped Tabitha look after him and really enjoyed it. I had wanted an animal of my own for a long time but when my mum and dad asked what? I said that I didn't really know, but now I did, a Donkey. So when we got back to Cornwall I told mum and dad. My mum said she didn't know much about them, and thought we should learn more before actually getting one! It was then that we found out about the Donkey Sanctuary Training Centre in Devon.
Mum and I went to the Donkey Care Stage 1 course where we met Ben, the training centre manager, Canny, Sarah and of course some donkeys, including, Shambles, a donkey being fostered in Wales, who looked as if he was wearing a skirt, he had so much hair, he was really fun to groom.
When we got there Ben gave me some donkey pictures and crayons for colouring, but my mum said I wasn't there to draw, I was there to learn as it was a big responsibility to take on a donkey of my own. I really enjoyed the day. We mucked out a stable where I found a dog ball that Canny had been looking for, and did some grooming. Ben was so funny and made the learning great fun, I learned a lot and me and mum both got our stage 1 certificates after taking a test.
When we got back home mum filled out some forms and after being checked to make sure we were suitable, our names went on the list for fostering. I was so excited because I thought I would have a donkey in a few months, but I was so wrong! I waited and waited, and waited and waited. Meanwhile I carried on going to the Training Centre doing other courses, another one on donkey care and then three courses on behaviour and training. I also found out that when a donkey is donated to the Donkey Sanctuary it goes to the Training Centre (usually only for a few weeks), to see if it can go to a foster home; if it can't then it stays at the Sanctuary and is looked after for the rest of its life.
There were two donkeys which had been born on Bodmin Moor and were bought by someone. Both donkeys had never been handled and no-one could get near them so they were donated to the Donkey Sanctuary and went to the Training Centre. They must have been really frightened (I know I would have been) as they were there for nearly two years. Then I had a phone call from Canny to say that she and Ben had been talking and that they thought Donk and Eeyore (the donkeys from Bodmin Moor) may be OK for me because I should be able to continue their training as I had already been on the training courses and so hopefully wouldn't undo the training they had done, more responsibilty. I was so excited, I was finally going to get not one but two donkeys; BUT there was a problem, the Training Centre was closed for the whole of the summer as the donkeys had a virus and they didn't know where it had come from, more waiting. Me and mum eventually went to meet Donk and Eeyore in October and although we did manage to catch them Ben thought they needed a bit more training. Ben also said that Eeyore had gone backwards a bit as a lady had been giving him electric shocks whenever she touched him; she was producing static electricity, poor Eyore I did feel sorry for him. More waiting, would I ever get a donkey?
December came and it was nearly the end of term, the school Christmas party was on the 20th and mum said I could either go to that or help her take delivery of something. I looked at her and wondered why she needed my help, then the penny dropped, Donk and Eeyore were on their way, no more waiting, hooray! what a Christmas present.
The 20th was the next day and I waited for them to come. I helped unload them and they looked around wondering where they were. I gave them some carrots and left them to have a good look round; mum's horses had their eyes out on stalks, I think they wondered what on earth had arrived.
I didn't catch them for a couple of days so they could settle in which didn't take long. Over the last year I have continued their training but everything has to be taken very slowly, as although they are good with tractors, cars and lorries, they sometimes get worried by bicycles, pushchairs and people rushing up to them and want to run away-they might only be small but they are very strong.
Some days they are really good, Eeyore is normally OK but Donk sometimes doesn't want to be caught, this is where I try and remember what Ben has said, and usually I manage, (mum does help) I have had some scary moments, especially when Donk ran off and pulled me over. We were out for a walk and saw an electric buggy in the distance and I wondered what the donkeys would think of this, the man in the buggy stopped but another man with a dog which was worried by the donkeys thought he would run by quickly, but fell over his dog and ended up in heap; this was when Donk ran off and pulled me over, ouch!
Mum started to go after Donk, then remembered me on the ground, I said I was OK and so she continued. Mum said she was going down the road when she heard me shout 'come back donkey, come back' and he did. It was only the man falling over that had scared Donk, Eeyore was OK and didn't take any notice of the electric buggy. I still take them out for walks and this year took them to the local church for Palm Sunday where they stood outside the lychgate greeting the people going into church, in fact some people even came out again once word got round. I was so proud of my donkeys, they were so good and behaved really well, in fact they didn't even move when people with walking sticks came up wanting to give them a stroke
I am so glad I got Donk and Eeyore; mum was rght it is a big responsibility but I do love them very much and get uspet when people say that donkeys are stupid and stubborn, that is definitely not right. They usually have a reason for everything that they do, but I must say it is sometimes very difficult to find out that reason.
I would like to be able to drive Eeyore in the future, but that is along way off and another story.
2nd Prize Winner : Katie Buckton from Hull, age 11
It all started when I was on my annual holiday with mum and dad; I was being a nuisance as always, pestering that I wanted to go to the swimming pool. "We can't go down to the pool because you got us suspended for sliding on a pile of towels into the pool" shouted mum.
"Oh " interrupted dad "I can work on my tan"
So it was decided that we would go to the beach. We found a perfect spot right in the middle; dad laid out his towel and fell asleep and mum went off to swim in the sky blue ocean, I went to buy myself a milk chocolate icecream.
That was when it happened; I was totally mesmerized, my eyes focussed. Right on the horizon was a lovely golden donkey giving rides to the children; I dropped my icecream and ran down the sands.
"One ride please, on that golden donkey if she is free" I asked "Sorry, this was her last day, she's retiring" said the man holding the donkeys. "Why? She doesn't look old" I replied, "She was 19 last month" said the man "and is going to a donkey sanctuary in Ireland"
"Well can I at least have one last ride on her?" I begged "One ride and then you have to leave" groaned the man.
I was on the donkey, clip, clop, clip, clop, suddenly a gust of wind came, the tide was coming in, the donkey went crazy and then the lead rein broke, next the donkey starting racing down the beach and I had no control over her, she ran into a small cove with rocks all the way round and when I tried to turn her round, her hooves wouldn't move.
Before I knew what had happened cold water was rising up over my ankles; I looked round, the tide had come right in, and I would have to get her over the water to get out. I realised that the donkey was afraid of the water, but if I stayed and waited with the donkey I would have to swim and get hit against the rocks.
I looked up, maybe there was just enough space in between the rocks for me to climb up. It was getting harder, I was struggling, finally I got to the top, ran to the phone and dialled the coastguard. They came as quickly as they could; I had gone back to wait with the frightened donkey. The water was now up to her hips.
They pulled me up and wrapped me in a towel, "What about the donkey? Please get the donkey" I was shaking with fear. "You were lucky to get out of there, look we will get the donkey in a minute, we are lifting her up in a harness"
I looked over the cliff and there in a big harness being pulled up was a big soaking wet donkey. I was so pleased I gave everyone that had helped a huge hug, including the donkey.
So it had happened the donkey that I had loved, had taken me to the other side of the world and back, but I still loved her to pieces.
3rd Prize Winner - Angel Allsopp from Helston, Cornwall, age 3 years with some help from Mum
Hi I'm Angel, I'm three and we have five donkeys, three jennys and two jacks and we have saved them all from dealers.
The best adventure for me me is being with my donkey 'Dom' . He was two years old when we first got him, he was very naughty but we spent a lot of time to get his trust and now three months later we can groom and work him. I am hoping to start riding him soon when he is old enough.
Competition for 2009
'Your Story'
It could be about your donkey, one you go to visit, or just an imaginary donkey.
Tell us all about this donkey and your adventures together, maybe add some photographs or drawings and send to the
DBS Website Competitions, Bryncelyn, Llanfyllin, Powys. SY22 5NE, making sure that your name, address and age are on the back.
Closing Date 1st September 2009
The winning entries will be published in Braytalk and The Donkey
Sadly there were no entries for the Summer Competition so I was unable to award either the prize or a competition rosette.
Summer Competition/
Closing Date for Entries: 1st September 2008
Make a 'Hobby Donkey'
and send a photograph of yours for publication on the Junior Page of the Donkey magazine 2009
Competitions Address: DBS Website Competitions, Bryncelyn, Llanfyllin, Powys. SY22 5NE
making sure that your name, address and age are on the back.
All entrants will receive a DBS Junior Members Competition Rosettes, and the maker of the best Hobby Donkey will recive a prize.
Just in case you don't have the instructions that appeared in the 2007 edition of the 'Donkey'read on:
To Make A Hobby Donkey
You will need:
- A broomstick
- An adult's sock
- Some stuffing (old tights, cotton wool etc)
- A pair of eyes, could be made from felt or use large buttons
- Knitting wool for the mane
- Felt or stiff material for big ears
- Braid or ribbon for head collar
- 2 curtain rings
1. First, stuff the whole of the sock; this will take on the basic shape of a donkey?s head.
2. Push the broomstick up through the stuffing until you reach the top of the head, Adjust stuffing and when you are happy with the shape of the head proceed to stage 3.
3. Secure end of sock to the broomstick (at bottom end of neck) you can do this by using elastic bands, string, or tacks depending on who is going to use it.
4 Now the fun part you can start to decorate your donkey?s head. Give your donkey some really big ears by using some stiff material, which will hold the shape of ears, sew these on very firmly.
5. Cut double knitting wool to about 20 cm lengths attach a large bundle to the top of the head so that it falls over the face between the ears, and sew as many as possible to form a mane falling both sides of the neck you may have to trim some of these when you have finished, this will give you practise for doing the real thing one day.
6. Attach a piece of braid or ribbon to the curtain rings long enough to go around the donkey's nose with one ring either side of the nose.
7. Attach two long pieces of braid to the rings to tie at the back of the head to form the reins.
8. Now you are ready to gallop away and arrange your own donkey gymkhana events!
Autumn Competition Results
No entries were received for the 'Vegetable Donkey' competition so I was unable to award either a rosette or a prize.
The Wordsearch Competition Was won by: Toni King from Gloucestershire - who sent in four superb puzzles, two of which will be going out with the junior members' copies of 'The Donkey'
Toni has received a Donkey Breed Society Junior Competitions Rosette and a prize of some Donkey notepaper
Sadly the entries for the web site competitions was again in single figures, so let's see if we can have more for the Spring ones.
The Autumn Competitions
Closing Date for Entries: 1st December 2006
A Vegetable Donkey? - not everyone has a real live donkey so how about making one from Vegetables, seeds, twigs, or fruit, in fact from anything you might find growing. Once you have made your donkey, ask someone to take a photograph of it from both sides and send the photographs to the competition entries address. Making sure you name, age, Donkey Breed Society Junior Membership Number and address are on the back of the photographs
'Wordsearch' ? design a wordsearch with as many words associated with donkeys as you can fit into the grid, write it out clearly on a sheet of paper, put your, name, age, Donkey Breed Society Junior Membership Number and address are on the back and send it to the competition entries address. Each entry will receive a Junior Competition Rosette and prizes will awarded to the best three entries in each category. Age will be taken into account when deciding the prize winners.
Competitions Address: DBS Website Competitions, Bryncelyn, Llanfyllin, Powys. SY22 5NE
Summer Holiday Competition Results
Photograph Competition
Was won by:Toni King from Gloucestershire- who sent in four delightful photographs, which will be posted in the competitions gallery. Toni will receive a Donkey Breed Society Junior Competitions Rosette and a Kodak Single Use Camera.
Magazine Competition was won by Jamie Kean from Berkshire who sent in a magazine which was created with help from his mum. Jamie will receive a Donkey Breed Society Junior Competitions Rosettes and Set of Colouring Pens and Pencils.
Sadly the entries for the web site competitions was in single figures, so let's see if we can have more for the next ones.
