Gypsey Race

{{Short description|A river in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England}}

{{Use British English|date=November 2016}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Gypsey Race

| name_etymology = GypsiaFrom the Old English Gypsia meaning to suddenly spring into life{{cite news|last=Hulbert|first=Linda|title=Origin of the Gypsey Race|url=http://www.bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk/news/your-say/origin-of-the-gypsey-race-1-1723797|access-date= 4 November 2016|work=Bridlington Free Press|date= 21 May 2008}}

| image = The Gypsey Race, from the A165, Bridlington (geograph 1793336).jpg

| image_caption = Gypsey Race near Bridlington

| image_alt = A narrow beck, curving between two fields

| source1_location = Duggleby

| source1_coordinates= {{coord|54|5|21|N|0|39|33|W}}

| mouth_location = North Sea at Bridlington

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|54|4|52|N|0|11|27|W|display=inline,title}}

| pushpin_map =East Riding of Yorkshire

| pushpin_map_caption= Location of the mouth shown within the East Riding of Yorkshire

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = England

| length = {{convert|41.4|km|mi}}{{cite web|title=Gypsey Race from Source to North Sea|url=http://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB104026072790|website=Catchment Data Explorer|publisher=Environment Agency|access-date= 4 November 2016}}

| source1_elevation = {{convert|114|m|ft}}

| discharge1_avg =

| basin_size = {{convert|265.5|km2|sqmi}}

}}

The Gypsey Race is a winterbourne stream{{cite web|title=Gypsey race|url=http://www.eastyorkshireriverstrust.org.uk/uploads/publications/newsLetter02April2008.pdf|website=eastyorkshireriverstrust.org|publisher=East Yorkshire Chalk Rivers Trust|access-date=4 November 2016|page=2|format=PDF|date=April 2008}} that rises to the east of Wharram-le-Street and flows through the villages of Duggleby, Kirby Grindalythe, West Lutton, East Lutton, Helperthorpe, Weaverthorpe, Butterwick, Foxholes, Wold Newton, Burton Fleming, Rudston and Boynton. The stream flows into the North Sea in Bridlington harbour. It is the most northerly of the Yorkshire chalk streams.

The Gypsey Race rises in the Great Wold Valley{{cite web|title=Great Wold Valley Heritage Trail|url=http://luttonsandweaverthorpe.ryedaleconnect.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Trail-leaflet-A4-final-270913.pdf|website=ryedaleconnect.org|publisher=Ryedale District Council|access-date=4 November 2016|page=1|format=PDF}} through a series of springs and flows intermittently between Duggleby and West Lutton where it runs underground in the chalk aquifer before re-surfacing in Rudston. It has been known during very wet conditions for the stream to re-appear at Wold Newton{{cite web|title=Gypsey Race – Summary|url=http://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/OperationalCatchment/3214/Summary|website=Catchment data Explorer|publisher=Environment Agency|access-date=4 November 2016}} some {{convert|7|km|order=flip}} north-west of Rudston.{{cite map|title = Scarborough & Bridlington|map=101|year =2006 |scale =1:50,000 |series =Landranger |publisher =Ordnance Survey|edition=D2|isbn =9780319229057}} Water from the aquifer running between West Lutton and Wold Newton also heads south to re-appear at Elmswell feeding West Beck and the River Hull.

According to folklore, when the Gypsey Race is flowing in flood (The Woe Waters), bad fortune is at hand.

{{cite book

|last = Cooper

|first = A. N.

|title = The Curiosities of East Yorkshire

|publisher = E. T. W. Dennis

|location = Scarborough

|year = 1921

|oclc=19825990}}

It was in flood in the year before the Great Plague of 1665–66, the restoration of Charles II (1660) and the landing of William of Orange (1688), before both World War One and World War Two, plus the bad winters of 1947 and 1962.

The stream also badly flooded the village of Burton Fleming in 2012 when the water was {{convert|2|ft}} deep in places.{{cite news|last1=Townend|first1=Jon|title=Burton Fleming residents bailing out after floodwater enters homes|url=http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/burton-fleming-residents-bailing-floodwater/story-17693130-detail/story.html|access-date=4 November 2016|work=Hull Daily Mail|date=27 December 2012}}

Villagers in Boynton have an annual duck race on the stream in May. Hundreds of yellow plastic ducks are paid for and race the Race in aid of funds for the village hall.{{cite news|title=Bottoms up at Boynton|url=http://www.bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk/news/bottoms-up-at-boynton-1-1735242|access-date=4 November 2016|work=Bridlington Free Press|date=6 May 2010}}