Area Representatives
Eastern Regional Delegate Jill Oliver with Mix and Match
The Eastern Region covers Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire
Regional Council Delegate: Jill Oliver Shairwood, emailjane@shairwoods.co.uk
Essex: Carole Travell
Cambridgeshire: Shirley Woods
Suffolk: Alan Larner
Buckinghamshire/Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire: Maggie Taylor
Northamptonshire: Sarah Hemmings
North Lincolnshire / Nottinghamshire: David Cappsdavidcapps@tiscali.co.uk
South Lincolnshire / Leicestershire/ Rutland: Vacant following the sad death of Brian Spicer
As the very new Regional Council Delegate for the Eastern Region Jill Oliver will be pleased to hear from any member wishing her to raise matters of concern or interest, or who have ideas for promoting the donkey and the Donkey Breed Society in the region, or just a willingness to host or help organise a social event for the benefit of all our members.
Information about future local events or reports from those past can be placed on this page for the benefit of others and should emailed to: info@donkeybreedsociety.co.uk
Wimpole Hall
National Donkey Driving Day drive at Wimpole Hall, Cambs, by kind permission of the National Trust and arranged for us by Linda
Swain of the British Driving Society (many thanks to Linda). There were 10 turnouts, and we drove across the parkland, around the estate roads, posed for photos outsdie the house then had a drive through the woodland on the adjoining (also NT owned) Wimpole Home Farm land... then a rest for the donks, a picnic and plenty of gossip for the humans. It was a perfect day in glorious warm (but not too hot), sunny weather with a light breeze and no flies.
Click on photo for more pictures of Whimpole Hall
Show Dates for the Future:
NEWARK & NOTTS COUNTY SHOW - 9th May
The County Showground, Winthorpe, Newark.
C/d: 26 March.
Sec: Claire Izard, The County Showground, Winthorpe, Newark NG24 2NY.
Tel: 01636 705796. www.newarkshowground.com
Judge: Mrs B Beresford
SOUTH SUFFOLK AGRICULTURAL SHOW - 9th May
Ampton Racecourse, Ingham, Bury St Edmunds.
C/d: 24 April.
Sec: Mr G Bailes, 35 Dalham Road, Moulton, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8SB.
www. southsuffolkshow.co.uk
Judge: Mrs S Prior
HADLEIGH FARMERS SHOW - 15th May
Holbecks Park, Hadleigh, Suffolk.
C/d: 19 April.
Sec: Mrs B Jones, HFAA, PO Box 3, Ipswich, IP7 6EP.
Tel: 01473 827920. www.hadleighshow.co.uk
Judge: Mrs M Hatton
HERTS COUNTY SHOW - 29th May
The Showground, Redbourn, Herts.
C/d: 2 April.
Sec: Mr M Harman, Herts Co Show, The Showground, Redbourn, Herts AL3 7PT. Tel: 01582 792626. www.hertsshow.com
Judge: Miss W Payne.
SUFFOLK COUNTY SHOW - 3rd June
Trinity Park, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich.
C/d: 26 March.
Sec: Ms Elizabeth Payne, Suffolk Agric. Assoc., Trinity Park, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 8UH.
Tel: 01473 707115. www.suffolkshow.co.uk
Judge: Mrs P Moon.
ROYAL NORFOLK SHOW - 1st July
Norfolk Showground, Norwich.
C/d: 9 April.
Sec: Mrs S de Chair, Royal Norfolk Show, Norfolk Showground, Norwich, NR5 0TT.
Tel: 01603 731965. www.royalnorfolkshow.co.uk
Judge: Mrs B Evans (nee Horrocks)
TENDRING HUNDRED SHOW - 10th July
Lawford House Park, nr Manningtree, Essex.
C/d: 18 June.
Sec: Mrs Romany Foster, The Oaks, Hunters Chase, Ardleigh, Colchester CO7 7LN.
Tel: 01206 231821. www.tendringshow.co.uk
Judge: Mrs R A Clarke
SHUTTLEWORK PARK DONKEY SHOW - 10th July
Shuttleworth Park, Old Warden, nr Biggleswade.
C/d: 5 July.
Sec: Ms Linda Swain, 35 Havelock Road, Biggleswade, Beds SG18 0DB.
Tel: 07850 706978. Judge: Mrs J Boyce
HECKINGTON & DISTRICT SHOW - 24th July
Heckington.
C/d: 19 June.
Sec: Mrs Susan Spencer, 25 George Street, Helpringham, Sleaford, Lincs NG34 0RS. Tel: 01529 421446. Judge: Mrs L Miller
EAST ANGLIAN DONKEY SHOW - 1st August
Rectory Farm, Kettleburgh, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 7LS.
C/d: -. Sec: Charlotte Corrick, 3a St Johns Street, Lichfield, Staffs WS13 6NU. Tel: 01543 301093. email: charlotte corrick@hotmail.com Judge: tba.
DRIVING TOWERLANDS - 3rd October
Towerlands Arena, Braintree, Essex.
C/d: 26 August. Sec: Tess Styles, BDS, 83 New Road, Helmingham,Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6EA. www.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk
Tel: 01473 892001. Judge: tba.
PETERBOROUGH AUTUMN SHOW - 10th October
East of England Showground.
C/d: 1 October.
Sec: Mrs P Clark, The Shieling, Lutton, Oundle, Peterborough PE8 5ND.
Tel: 01832 272210. Judge: tba.
Regional Events
EASTERN REGION REPORT FOR THE AGM 2008
We have had a very busy year that started with the New Years Day Parade, which our dedicated members attended. It's an experience never forgotten, walking through London with your Donkey!
We started our show season with most of our shows being in May and June.
What a month of May! It started in a heat wave for the South Suffolk and the Newark and Notts. finishing in a very wet Suffolk County.
At least it was dry for our June shows. Herts. County and the Royal Norfolk had good-sized classes and it was good to see Gill Gallagher and her father Peter Bushell back showing at the Royal Norfolk.
In July we unfortunately had another clash of dates with the Shuttleworth Show moving back a week onto the Tendring Show date, so we had split loyalties here as Shuttleworth is well organised and has driving classes, Tendring being an old established show with a new ring and the threat of 'use it or lose it'. It was a geographical split for most.
The East Anglian Show was held in August, but unfortunately no driving this year.
So the East were very strong contenders for the Supreme Championship Show and it proved to be with Wendy Sawyer's 'Eeebeegeebee' taking the Stallion title and Jill Oliver's 'Mix and Match' and "Gamlingay April Love' taking Reserve Champions in the Stallion and Mares respectively, and on the Sunday Carole Travell's 'Trinitas 'enry 'iggins' was awarded the premium award for Stallions.
In September the DBS was invited to drive at Burghley Horse Trials in the main ring. This was organised by David Capps it was such a privilege and we were lucky as most of the main ring programme was cancelled due to the weather! But donkeys tiptoed through the mud and slurry performing well in the lovely arena in front of a very appreciative audience.
Then London was calling again for the Pearly Kings and Queens Festival, which our members attended and are always appreciated. Briony Wild hosted driving days throughout the year, which several members were invited to and thoroughly enjoyed.
The East of England Autumn Show was our last show and was blessed with superb October sunshine and was well supported as it also hosted the MMDA Championship. Thanks to all that attended the shows this year and I would like to wish you all a quiet winter and look forward to seeing you next season.
Jill Oliver Regional Delegate, East
DBS Eastern Regional News Letter
Dear Member,
Welcome to this my first newsletter as your regional delegate. I hope to send you a newsletter early in the year, as we are all struggling with the wet and the mud so hopefully I can cheer you all up and we can all look forward to the spring and summer and all the adventures this will bring. If you are a member that does not show their donkey, but just enjoys having fun with them, why not come along to one of the shows if they are in your area. They are great fun and you get to meet other members and their donkeys, it is an opportunity to exchange stories and find out more about this lovely animal.
This winter we again had a very enjoyable DBS Christmas party at our home, my thanks to all who came for they support .
This year DBS is 40 Years old, throughout the year there will be a number of events to celebrate this.
On 1st January 2007 many member from the Eastern region travelled to London for the New Years Day parade, organised by the South Eastern region. The parade wass many miles long with thousands of people lining the route and was a wonderful day out. The DBS had over 40 donkeys both walking and driving whilst a giant cake headed our entry.
Our thanks to Chris Young and all the South Eastern committee for all they hard work. Now dates for your diary.
On the 11th March Briony & Jeff Wild are hosting another drive and walk in the wood near their home. This will be one of the first 40th birthday celebrations in our area and will be great fun. We should be leaving their home at about 11am.Please contact Tel 01279 724195 for more information.
Are you interested in driving ? Then don?t miss our driving seminar on 25th March at the Bracken Hurst Equestrian Centre, Southwell, Notts.
Eastern Region get together. Want to learn about Showing, Driving and general care or just come and chat. At 4 Potton Road, The Heath, Everton, Sandy Beds. Our thanks to Janet Lee. Please contact Carole Travell for more detail. Tel. 01279655454
HERTS COUNTY SHOW - 29th May
The Showground, Redbourn, Herts.
C/d: 2 April. Sec: Mr M Harman, Herts Co Show, The Showground, Redbourn, Herts AL3 7PT.
Tel: 01582 792626. www.hertsshow.com
Judge: Miss W Payne.
