The Donkey Breed Society

Area Representatives

Regional Delegate to Council: Joanne Parrett email: joanneparrett@aol.co.uk

Isle of Wight: Lynne Peppitt

Berkshire: Clare Strang

Dorset & Somerset:  Vacant

Wiltshire: Claire Humphries

Hampshire: Trudie Affleck

Information about events and activities within the region can be added to this page and should be emailed to: info@donkeybreedsociety.co.uk

Future Events for your diary 

Show Dates for your Diary

WEYHILL SHOW - 9th May

Shadel Stud, Andover Road, Weyhill, Hampshire.  C/d: -.  Sec: Mrs S Matthewman, 41 Abbatt Close, Ludgershall, Andover, Hampshire SP11 9PQ.   www.shadelstud.com  01264 398324.  Judge: tba.

SURREY COUNTY SHOW - 31st may 

Stoke Park, Guildford. 
C/d: 30 April.  Sec: Mrs S Ashworth, 8 Birtley Courtyard, Bramley, Surrey GU5 0LA. 
Tel:  01483 890810.  www.surreycountyshow.co.uk  Judge: Mrs S Young

ROYAL BATH & WEST SHOW - 5th June

The Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. 
C/d: 5 April.
Sec: Alan Lyons, Royal Bath & West of England Agric. Soc., The Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6QN.  01749 822209.  www.bathandwest.com   Judge: Mrs R A Clarke.

TOWN & COUNTRY FAYRE - 13th June

Turnpike Showground, Mutcombe, nr Shaftesbury, Dorset.  C/d: 1 June.  Sec: Mr S J Braddick, The Show Office, Station Road, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4PY.  01747 823985.
 www.gillshaftshow.co.uk   Judge: tba

BDS ANNUAL SHOW -

Smiths Lawn, Windsor. 
C/d: 17 May.  Sec: The Hon Charlotte Lawson, Buckinghams Cottage, Fressingfield, Suffolk IP21 5QE.  01379 586686.  www.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk   Judge: tba.

ISLAND FARM DONKEY SHOW - 4th July

Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary, Wallingford, Oxon. C/d: 26 June. 
Sec: Show Secretary, Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary, Brightwell, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 0SW. 
Tel: 01491 833938.  www.donkeyrescue.org.uk   Judge: Mrs R A Clarke.

NEW FOREST & HAMPSHIRE COUNTY SHOW - 28th July

The Showground, New Park, Brockenhurst.
C/d: 2 June. 
Sec: Beth Beales, New Forest Show, The Showground, New Park, Brockenhurst, Hampshire SO42 7QH.  01590 622400.  www.newforestshow.co.uk   Judge: Mrs P Munn

ELLINGHAM & RINGWOOD SHOW - 14th August

 
Somerley Park, Ellingham, Ringwood. 
C/d: 1 July. 
Sec: Mr M Shutler, 229 Albion Way, Verwood, Dorset BH31 7LT. 
Tel: 01202 814167.  Judge: Mrs M Hatton.

MELPLASH SHOW - 26th August 

West Bay Road, Bridport. 
C/d: -. 
Sec: Mrs A J Ford, 23 South Street, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3NT. 
Tel: 01308 423337.  www.melplashshow.co.uk   Judge: tba.

ALRESFORD & DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SHOW - 4th September

Tichborne Park, Alresford, Winchester. 
C/d: 16 August. 
Sec: Mrs A J Titheridge JP, 4 Wolverton Gardens, West Meon, Hampshire GU32 1LP.  Tel: 01730 829545.  www.alresfordshow.co.uk   Judge: Mrs S Young.

Dorset County Show - 5th September

Dorchester Showground, Dorchester.
C/d: 4th August
Secretary: Mrs S MacKenzie-Green, Agriculture House, Acland Road, Dorchester. Dorset. DT1 1EF
Telephone: 01305 264249     Judge: To be appointed

Romsey Show - 11th September

Broadlands Park, Romsey.
C/d:
Secretary: Miss A Carder, Romsey Show, 2a Market Place, Romsey, Hampshire. SO51 8NBTelephone: 01794 517521   Judge:

South of England Autumn Show - 3rd October

Ardingly, West Sussex.
C/d:  24th September
Secretary: Mrs E Cuff, South of England Centre, Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6TL
Telephone: 01444 892700  Judge:  To be appointed

SOUTH REGION REPORT FOR THE AGM 2008

Well, no-one can say we've not been busy! Not many months have gone by this year without something happening across the region. Many members have been regular supporters of the events, and it's been great to welcome new members as the year has gone on. We now have a regular calendar of events, and hope to continue next year with a similar level of activity throughout the year.

February saw a good number enjoying the hospitality offered by Jo Parrett who hosted a Sunday lunch at her home in Waterlooville.

With Easter being early this year, our first training event at the Wilton RDA centre was in March, fortunately with the benefit of an indoor school. Snow flurries outside were not a problem for the donkeys and their owners as they worked their way around many different challenges as part of developing confidence. Everyone did really well, and it was great to see how much each donkey developed as the day went on.

The end of April saw much better weather; in fact glorious sunshine, ideal for a day out in the bluebell woods of Wiltshire. We really were lucky to have access to such lovely woods with wonderful tracks and carpets of bluebells. I?m really hoping to be able to repeat the experience next year. Many thanks to Clare Wigmore for sharing her woods with us for the day.

The June event gave an opportunity for exploration of the New Forest, kindly organised by Maureen Thorne. We certainly got the attention of other walkers in the Forest, less used to seeing donkeys out for a stroll! The challenge of a wooden bridge was interesting but navigated by all!

July saw a return to Wilton RDA for the second training event of the year which, by popular demand, was a donkey training leading to Donkey Trec. Paces were demonstrated in phase 1 (some even cantered!), confidence in various obstacles was well handled in phase two, and a bogus time for the marathon gave everyone equal chance in phase three ? no-one had imagined a time of 12 minutes!

September was back to the New Forest for a walk from Rosie Powells? house at Fritham to the pub! The weather was glorious, the pens at the pub ideal for donkeys and the hospitality of the pub second to none. What a great way to spend Sunday lunchtime!

October will provide another chance to try the bridge in the New Forest, - many thanks Maureen Thorne for again providing a meeting place and acting as guide.

Our final event for the year will be a pre Christmas meal in Salisbury and a chance to share photographs of the year?s events and plan for next year! We were sorry that Sue and Alec Horn were not able to be with us this year, but would like to say a big thank you to Sue for all that she has done over the years as Regional Delegate.

Clare Humphries and Trudy Affleck Area Representatives

Report to Council -March 2007

The regional delegate Sue Horn reported that two newsletters had been circulated

SOUTH REGION REPORT FOR THE AGM 2006

Spring arrived fairly early in the South, although wet to start with giving everyone an abundance of grass.

The first show I attended with Alec, as grooms and spectators due to his hip replacement in March, was the South Eastern Donkey Show. All the donkeys looked well and not too woolly; many of the successes at the show came from the southern counties, especially Clare Humphries with Frosty in the driving classes.

Following SEDS, we went to the Bath & West at the end of May, again many exhibitors from the South were successful.

The first show for us as exhibitors again was the Three Counties where success again came to the South Region. Ray and Wendy held a very successful show at Crabwood at the end of June with Pat Munn from Hampshire doing a very good job of judging. Wendy was able to give a very large donation to the Trust Fund for the four Hartley Boys from Romsey.

A number of exhibitors from the South attended the northern shows in July and the Championship Show in August and a good number of the accolades came back to the South. I am pleased to say that we have two new, very enthusiastic Area Representatives: Clare Humphries for Wiltshire and Trudy Affleck for Hampshire; although Trudy lives on the Wiltshire/Hampshire border she will be covering Hampshire. I will give them as much help as possible. I am hoping that we will get a newsletter going for the South and I would like to think that we can have a Regional Christmas Lunch somewhere in the region.

Due to personal circumstances we didn?t see our Past Chairman, Ros Whitworth, around the South this year, particularly in her capacity as a judge ? hopefully she will be back on the circuit next year.

Various National Driving Day events were to take place in the South in September but due to the adverse weather many of these had to be cancelled. The autumn started fine, warm and dry, but while writing this we have just had a large amount of rain and flooding. Grass is again in abundance ? do be careful at this time of year and watch for laminitis.

I wish everyone in the region every success in whatever they do in 2007.

Sue Horn Regional Delegate to Council for the South