The dust may have settled on this year's Eling Donkey Derby, but let’s rewind the clock to a particularly soggy showdown.

It was a day that would go down in derby lore: June 5, 1999, a day when the heavens opened, transforming the racecourse into a muddy melee and turning our four-legged friends into reluctant waterlogged wanderers.

It was the same day the Epsom Derby was stealing headlines. But in the heart of the New Forest, a different kind of drama was unfolding.

(Image: Echo)

These weren't thoroughbreds charging towards glory, but rather stubborn donkeys with a penchant for procrastination.

The rain lashed down, turning the course into a quagmire, but undeterred, these equine enigmas plodded on.

It was a spectacle as thrilling as any grand prix, albeit at a much, much, slower pace.

(Image: Echo)

Despite the deluge, the Eling Donkey Derby was a roaring success.

Brave spectators huddled under brollies, their spirits as damp as the weather, but their laughter as loud as thunder.

The 4th New Forest North Eling Seascouts, the masterminds behind the muddy mayhem, managed to raise a whopping £2,500.

(Image: Echo)

This cash windfall went towards building a new home for the Scouts and upgrading their gear, ensuring future generations of adventurers were well-equipped.

So, while the sun may have shone on the Epsom Derby that year, it was the Eling Donkey Derby that truly captured hearts and minds.

A day of unexpected thrills, muddy mishaps, and community camaraderie.