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 6
A great historic tradition continues in the Yorkshire Wolds, as people gather to ride in and watch the famous Kiplingcotes Derby, together with a giant bottle of Bass.
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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 possibly one of its youngest entrants.
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 is famous for being the oldest surviving equestrian event in Britain, dating back to 1519. 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 and 2001, the year of foot and mouth, when in each year a single horse completed the course. Anyone can enter the race, though riders under 10 stone have to make up to that amount using weights. The youngest ever winner was Josephine Brown in 1963 riding Vulbalin.
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