Saddling up for derby fun at charity event
What started as a donkey derby in a Shropshire village about 20 years ago has "grown like magic" into an annual equestrian event attracting hundreds of people – despite the fact the original organisers cannot even ride.
The fun ride began in Clive, near Market Drayton, in the mid 1990s when members of the Clive Friends of Severn Hospice put on an event to replace the annual donkey derby in the village.
But within about 10 years they had to hand it over to the North Shropshire Hunt to organise because it became too much.
The next two fun rides will take place this Sunday and on September 15 at the Battlefield 1403 visitor's centre, north of Shrewsbury.
Val Walters, chair of Clive Friends of Severn Hospice, said: "The man who ran the donkey derby couldn't get the donkeys here anymore so we thought the children would like to ride ponies instead.
"It was a chance but it got bigger and bigger, it just grew like magic."
The event starts at 10am for the first riders until 2pm for the last. Entry £15 for adults.
