A GROUP of four-legged friends from Gunnislake are aiming for donkey stardom after being named as the best in the west for the third year running. Punda, Snubs, Kiltie, Arkle and Poppy from the Tamar Valley Donkey Park are now competing against Blackpool, Weymouth and Scarborough?s finest to win the coveted title of best working and beach donkeys in Britain. The annual competition, organised by the Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary since 2003, aims to recognise the high standards of animal welfare practise and awards donkeys and their owners with two national titles ? one for the best individual donkey and the other for the best group. The team from the Tamar Valley will be led by 13-year-old Punda, who brought the best individual title in the regional heat to the donkey park for the first time this year. Little Punda is the only donkey in the group born at the Gunnislake attraction ? her four teammates were rescue donkeys who have been rehomed at the donkey park, where they delight hundreds of children throughout the year by giving rides. Staff at the Tamar Valley Donkey Park are hoping it will be third time lucky. Co-owner Julia Gibbons said it would be lovely to win the national title as the team were unusual in this competition: ?The competition is very stiff because we are up against the beach donkeys from Blackpool and Scarborough who are bred for this purpose and all look the same,? she said. ?The majority of our donkeys are rescue donkeys which makes them special ? they enjoy working as all donkeys do but here they do it all year round ? the beach donkeys give rides in the summer and are turned out somewhere else in the winter.? Donkeys live to the ripe old age of 45-50 years old and takings at the donkey park help to look after the elderly donkeys who can no longer give rides. National judge Maggie Taylor, an experienced donkey owner and fundraising officer for the Donkey Sanctuary, said: ?I have heard from previous years that the standards are extremely high between resorts and there is healthy competition. ?I shall examine the donkeys hooves, teeth, eyes and I?ll also check the condition of their tack,? she said. ?I will in particular be looking for strong donkeys with good conformation, gentle and placid natures and above all to see that they are happy in their work.? The judging has been taking place this week and the winners will be announced tomorrow (Friday).
