Dennis the donkey in the running again
Dennis, the donkey with a Gavin Henson gelled mane, is bidding to become the first donkey to win the Britain’s Best Beach Donkey competition twice.
Not only is Dennis a huge hit and favourite with children on Llanelli beach within Llanelli Millennium Coastal Park, but he travels the country given rides to children in deprived areas and guests at posh peoples’ parties.
He was recently booked to give rides at Top Gear, Richard Hammond’s son’s private party.
Executive board member of Carmarthenshire County Council who manage the park is Cllr Clive Scourfield, who said: “Dennis is a huge hit on Llanelli beach and has become quite a celebrity nationwide. He is becoming quite an embassadonkey for the county.”
The Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary holds its Britain’s Best Beach Donkey competition every year to recognise and reward high standards of donkey care and welfare.
The society introduced the competition in 2004 to highlight the use of beach donkeys and remind coast visitors of the age-old pleasures of riding along the sands.
Dennis, judged to have “attitude and character”, won the 2007 competition making him a celebrity in his summertime home at Llanelli Beach with the Llanelli Millennium Coastal Park. He was runner up last year.
This year’s judge for the competition, Amber Brennan, who works for the Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys in Birmingham, which provides donkey-riding therapy to children with special needs, gave Dennis the once-over on Monday decide if he could become the first donkey to win the national competition twice.
She gave Dennis’s owner Mike Thomas of the Mynyddygarreg Donkey Sanctuary a shield to denote his become a regional finalist for the fourth time. He was best donkey in Britain
The overall winner will be announced on Sunday, August 30th. Miss Brennan said: “To triumph in this competition means an official seal of approval from the world’s largest charity committed to the welfare of donkeys.”
Dennis the Donkey’s owner, 44-year-old Mr Thomas believes the animal has saved him from an early death.
He developed lymph cancer and set up the £2 per ride donkey business to give him a healthier lifestyle.
He said: “I had done the same job for 20 years, working as a heavy plant operator in a quarry, sitting down all day.
“My doctor told me I needed plenty of exercise and I had to change the way I lived and the donkeys, especially Dennis, has done that for me.
“I am nervously anticipating Sunday’s result but Dennis is taking everything in her stride and is in huge demand with children travelling huge distances to ride him.”
Dennis who has already been best in Britain and runner-up in a national best beach ride donkey is in the running again to the top award after winning regional heats with proud owner Mike Thomas of the Mynyddygarreg Donkey Sanctuary. Picture: Jeff Connell
Not only is Dennis a huge hit and favourite with children on Llanelli beach within Llanelli Millennium Coastal Park, but he travels the country given rides to children in deprived areas and guests at posh peoples’ parties.
He was recently booked to give rides at Top Gear, Richard Hammond’s son’s private party.
Executive board member of Carmarthenshire County Council who manage the park is Cllr Clive Scourfield, who said: “Dennis is a huge hit on Llanelli beach and has become quite a celebrity nationwide. He is becoming quite an embassadonkey for the county.”
The Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary holds its Britain’s Best Beach Donkey competition every year to recognise and reward high standards of donkey care and welfare.
The society introduced the competition in 2004 to highlight the use of beach donkeys and remind coast visitors of the age-old pleasures of riding along the sands.
Dennis, judged to have “attitude and character”, won the 2007 competition making him a celebrity in his summertime home at Llanelli Beach with the Llanelli Millennium Coastal Park. He was runner up last year.
This year’s judge for the competition, Amber Brennan, who works for the Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys in Birmingham, which provides donkey-riding therapy to children with special needs, gave Dennis the once-over on Monday decide if he could become the first donkey to win the national competition twice.
She gave Dennis’s owner Mike Thomas of the Mynyddygarreg Donkey Sanctuary a shield to denote his become a regional finalist for the fourth time. He was best donkey in Britain
The overall winner will be announced on Sunday, August 30th. Miss Brennan said: “To triumph in this competition means an official seal of approval from the world’s largest charity committed to the welfare of donkeys.”
Dennis the Donkey’s owner, 44-year-old Mr Thomas believes the animal has saved him from an early death.
He developed lymph cancer and set up the £2 per ride donkey business to give him a healthier lifestyle.
He said: “I had done the same job for 20 years, working as a heavy plant operator in a quarry, sitting down all day.
“My doctor told me I needed plenty of exercise and I had to change the way I lived and the donkeys, especially Dennis, has done that for me.
“I am nervously anticipating Sunday’s result but Dennis is taking everything in her stride and is in huge demand with children travelling huge distances to ride him.”
Dennis who has already been best in Britain and runner-up in a national best beach ride donkey is in the running again to the top award after winning regional heats with proud owner Mike Thomas of the Mynyddygarreg Donkey Sanctuary. Picture: Jeff Connell
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