Community

Long-eared Globetrotters take to the court

By GLYNIS HART
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CLAREMONT — Cops, kids and donkeys will be teaming up at 6 p.m. Saturday night at Stevens High School gymnasium for a donkey basketball tournament to benefit Project Red and Blue, a summer leadership academy for middle school students run by the Claremont police department. 

Project Red and Blue is in its fifth year. The program takes 20 incoming sixth grade kids who exemplify respectful behavior towards peers and administrators, are responsible and kind. School Resource Officer Crystal Simonds makes a selection after meeting with elementary school administrators and talking with teachers. 

“We run three days a week for three weeks in July,” Simonds wrote in an email. “We work on team building, building self esteem and confidence and leadership. We have a classroom day, community service day and an adventure day each week.The adventures look to boost team work, self esteem and self belief.”

Donkeyball is played on a basketball court, with three donkeys on each team. The donkeys come from Green Mountain Donkeyball of Danby, Vermont. John Sisters, who founded the company with his wife over 30 years ago, said, “I take real cautious pride in the treatment of these animals; they were born in my arms.” 

Before each game Sisters “reads the riot act” to the human players to ensure the donkeys are treated well. Instead of wearing a bridle with a metal bit in their mouths, the donkeys wear padded halters with reins. They can be cajoled, enticed, and persuaded, but they can’t be forced — which is where the humor comes in.

“They’re donkeys. They’re not going to do anything they don’t want to do,” said Sisters. “Some of them are in there, being mobbed by kids, eating popcorn — I can’t get in their heads, but they seem happy with it.” 

Sisters has handled hundreds of donkeys over the decades. “They’re super friendly and nothing bothers them,” he said of his star players. If a donkey seems shy or nervous the first time he takes it to a game, he won’t bring it again. Other donkeys seem to enjoy it. 

“They’re in it for the popcorn,” Sisters observed. “One of ours will just plow her way into the gym and find the popcorn and just plant herself there. In the pre-game meeting I tell the riders about this.” 

Do they get to choose their donkey teammates? 

“I pick,” said John. “I coordinate who’s going to be on which donkeys.” 

Donkeys are sturdy and strong enough to carry most people, but GMD has a 200-lb. rider limit. “I have two really big donkeys who can carry that much,” said John. “We can handle one 200 pound person on each team.” 

John and his wife first saw a donkeyball game in Apache Creek, New Mexico, 30 years ago. They were inspired, and on the drive back to Vermont they wrote a business plan. “We’ve been doing it ever since,” he said. 

“It’s so fun,” he said. “We are treated so good at these gyms. They sell out wherever we go.” 

During the break between games, they give donkey rides to children. And people who don’t know donkeys will enjoy getting to know them: “If they have a heart in their chest, the donkeys will steal it,” said Sisters. 

Now in its fifth year, Project Red and Blue is a summer leadership academy provided free to middle school students. The mission of the camp is to promote academic excellence, build leadership skills, and foster community engagement. 

IF YOU GO

Where: Stevens High School Gymnasium

When: 6 p.m. Saturday March 30. Doors open at 5 p.m. 

Who:  Claremont Police officers, SAU-6 administrators and Stevens High School seniors will contend for the Donkeyball Champions title. 

Why: To support Project Red and Blue summer camp. 

Cost: $8 advance tickets, $10 at the door. Age 4 and under: free.

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