FPHT Article in our local newspaper Cumberland&Westmorland Herald, 4th October 2025, highlighting our aims. (fb)

The Fell Pony Heritage Trust would like to mark the passing of Tony Ashcroft. Banksgate Fell Ponies., on the 17th September 2025. Tony bred so many quality ponies and was very well known as a Fell Pony breeder. On the show circuit he had a lot of success owing to the quality of his ponies as he was never part of any clique and always let his ponies and showing skill do all the talking. He won the overall Supreme Champion at the Fell Pony Society Breed Show, twice, with two home bred mares Banksgate Vember in 2014 and Banksgate Galway Girl in 2015. He was also a respected livestock farmer and drystone waller. There is a long stretch of wall he put up for Eddie Wilson at the foot of Carrock Fell which stands as testament to his craft. He lived and farmed at Banksgate, high on the North Cumbrian Pennines. It suffered the harshest of climates owing to its elevation between 1100 and 1300 feet above sea level and openness to the prevailing Westerly weather. Tony Ashcroft put his ponies first in every way and always concentrated on breeding quality. He was a man of many talents being a talented and bold rock climber, mountaineer, rugby and football player in his younger days. He leaves his wife, Elyned, 3 children, Catherine, Alan and Hannah and 7 grandchildren. His funeral will take place at Aberffraw on Wednesday 8th October. The Banksgate herd will be retained by his wife and children in whose hands and God willing, it will continue to flourish. (fb)