The 'Local' Race - The Kiplingcotes Derby
1999 - 2003
The Results

Record Breaking Race - 1999

1999 was a record breaking year for the 480th race which was run on Thursday 18 March.  Ten runners entered the race and the winner was 15 year old Laura Crawford riding Hamilton Princess, who finished half a length in front of Ken Holmes the winner of 9 previous races.

Laura is the youngest girl to have won the race in the 50 years that they have been allowed to enter, and her win was topped by being the first rider to receive a new silver trophy fashioned in the form of a horse and rider, and donated by a local jeweller and the race trustees.

The Millennium Race - 16 March 2000
	The 481st race was held on Thursday 16 March, on a fine spring-like day that attracted a total of 18 runners and riders. A large crowd gathered at the finishing post to see the riders weighing in before trotting to the starting post some 4 miles away. All the riders have to weigh in, and must meet the minimum weight of ten stones in order to avoid having to carry extra weight.
Nine times winner Ken Holmes		Celia Standring, a previous entrant and this year riding sidesaddle
	Nine times winner Ken Holmes was back again this year, in an attempt to achieve his tenth win, and was clearly one of the favourites. Another favourite was Laura Crawford, who was attempting to repeat her winning performance of 1999.
Ken with Snowfire Chap		Celia with Moorland Major
A large crowd waited in anticipation for sight of the winner, and for the second year in succession it was ladies' day.  First past the post was Teddy ridden by Fiona Dixon of Easingwold. She had led the race from start to finish, and came in some ten lengths ahead of Ken Holmes on Snowfire Chap, with Laura Crawford on Memorable finishing in third place.
Fiona Nixon with the Winner's Trophy		Fiona and Teddy

Race 2002

The 483rd race was held in glorious sunshine on Thursday 21st March 2002 before a very large crowd.  The event attracted eight entries, all managing to weigh-in before the 11 am deadline, perhaps disappointingly low compared to those of previous years.  Regular entrant 70 year old Ken Holmes was here again this year, hoping to raise his tally of wins to ten.  The weather conditions leading up to the race had left the course very soft with some stretches being muddy and under water, making it a taxing course for the horses.

Runners and Riders
Jimmy - Ethel Worthington	Monty - Ken Holmes	Pogo - Sarah Stone	Arnie - Ken Simpson
Burt - Robert Howarth	Markham Lad - D Pritchard	Shantih - Rachel Lewis	Josey - S Sanderson

The race took place amid triumph and tragedy.  

Ken Holmes galloped home on "Monty", a clear winner after four and a half miles hard riding to take home the silver trophy.

The second horse home was "Burt" ridden by Robert Howarth; sadly "Burt" suddenly collapsed and died only a few yards past the winning post - a tragic end for such a brave horse.  Our sympathies go out to Robert.

Third was "Shantih" ridden by Rachel Lewis

The conditions on the course were such that two riders were thrown, with "Markam Lad" coming home riderless.  All riders however were uninjured.

Last past the post to a rousing round of applause was "Jimmy", a magnificent working horse, ridden by Ethel Worthington.

Ken Holmes at the traditional weighing-in ceremony	Ken receiving the winners trophy

Race 2003

This year's race was held on Thursday 20th March on a fine spring day, when 12 riders contested the gruelling cross-country course.  The winner of the race was Robert Howarth riding Bob, and in his moment of triumph he must have had memories of the race last year when minutes after finishing second his mount Burt tragically died.

Veteran Ken Holmes, the holder of ten record wins, was beaten into second place, with first time entrant David Parsons on Be Brave finishing third.