The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
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Kiplingcotes Races 1
A great historic tradition continues in the Yorkshire Wolds, as people gather to witness the runners and riders weigh in for the famous Kiplingcotes derby.
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Overview
Farmer Norman Stephenson only had to pop out of his home of Arras Farm in the East Riding to witness, and film, the Kiplingcotes Derby which started and finished just a few yards away. As we come towards the end of winter some time in the 1950s, the oldest surviving flat race in the country gets underway, with both men and women jockeys getting weighed before setting off for the start of the 4 mile course.
This is one of seven short films showing the Kiplingcotes races in the East Riding in the 1950s filmed by Norman Stephenson, who also filmed various farming events in the area. The Kiplingcotes Derby in the Yorkshire Wolds is famous for being, reputably, the oldest surviving equestrian event in Britain, claiming to date back to 1519 (there are records from 1618). It takes place on the third Thursday in March, and tradition has it that if it ever misses a year it must come to an end, hence it never has. Even in the bleak winter of 1947 one horse completed the course, as also happened in 2001, the year of foot and mouth. Anyone can enter the race, which goes over a course which can change its route from one year to the next.
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