A special prize giving ceremony is being held at 11.00am on Tuesday 27th October 2009 on the sands of Scarborough’s South Beach to celebrate the area’s recent award for Best Resort along with the regional award winners in Britain’s Best Beach Donkey Competition 2009.

Martin Taggart, Head of Welfare at The Donkey Sanctuary in Devon will be presenting the award for the Best Resort to the Mayor of Scarborough, Bill Chatt. Regional awards and rosettes are also being presented to William, owned by Rachel Philips who has won the regional title of ‘Best Beach Donkey’ to Amanda Philips, owner of ‘Best Group of Donkeys’ and to Guy Smith for ‘Best Stables’.

The awards are part of a national competition organised by The Donkey Sanctuary, a charity based near Sidmouth in Devon, which aims to recognise high standards of animal welfare practice.

The donkeys are judged on overall impression, fitness for the job, temperament, condition, tack and turnout, feet, attitude of the owners and facilities.

William narrowly missed out on winning the national title as Britain’s Best Beach Donkey 2009 which was awarded to Sooty from Skegness.

Whilst Britain has around 850 happy beach donkeys protected by minimum working conditions (e.g. maximum 8-stone weight limit), millions are being overworked in developing countries where they provide essential transport to millions of people living below the poverty line.