THERE’LL be plenty of ha-has among the hee-haws when people gee up for the 46th donkey derby in Bampton this Bank Holiday Monday.
Fourteen donkeys from Weston-super-Mare face off in the races that have been delighting villagers since 1953. Children will be able to ride in a range of races that residents can bet on.
The proceeds will go to providing a daytrip to the seaside for some of Bampton’s 400 senior citizens.
Don Rouse, who has been organising the event since 1969, said: “The tradition surrounding this event is that we raise enough money to send two coachloads of our senior citizens to the seaside on the following Wednesday.
“This year they are all going to Weston-super-Mare which by coincidence is where the donkeys are coming from to perform at the donkey derby – a sort of social exchange.
“Fourteen donkeys from Weston will visit Bampton on the Monday and 106 Bamptonians will visit Weston on the Wednesday.”
The event takes place on Sandford’s Field in Bampton, next to Church View, from 2pm to 5pm.
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