Lochmaben residents go wild and wacky at children's gala

Jul 3 2009 by Sharon Liptrott, Dumfries Standard Friday

SOARING temperatures attracted huge crowds to this year’s week-long Lochmaben Children’s Gala.

The week of events including a balloon race, car treasure hunt, a mini marathon for children and a window treasure hunt and culminated in the popular gala and sports day on Saturday.

Gala secretary Vera Thorburn said: “The weather has been fantastic and we have had a lot of support this year.

“It has made a big difference to the amount of people who joined in the week of events.

“It is not often we get through the whole week without a spot of rain.”

On Saturday the streets of the Royal Burgh were lined with people watching the parade of floats and fancy dress entrants dressed in costumes from Dalmatians to Darth Vader and from clowns to nuns.

The parade was led by Lochmaben Pipe Band and a vintage car containing Miss Lochmaben 2009 Chloe McWhirter and her retinue of attendant Mhairi Burnett, Gala Princess Charlotte Hyslop, and escort Brodan Gough.

Lockerbie Pipe band also joined in.

Overall winner of the floats was the local Rainbows, Brownies and Guides as 101 Dalmatians and they also won the children’s section.

The fancy dress competition was judged by Lockerbie Academy Rector Graham Herbert and his wife, while the floats were judged by Wilma Paterson and Jean Kelly, who was the representative of sponsors, the Lockerbie Cheese Factory.

Youngsters and adults enjoyed an afternoon of gala sports including a bouncy castle, face painting and other attractions in the school field.

And Lochmaben’s big day ended with the 7pm beat the retreat in the community centre car park.

RESULTS

Fancy dress

Individuals — Girls aged 5 and under: 1 Michaela Coupland, ballerina; 2 Drew Ross and her dog Wallace, Scarecrow and Toto; 3 Isobel McDonald Ponney, Little Bo Peep.

Boys 5 and under: 1 Joshua Cartwright, ice cream seller; 2 Struan Kingstree, Oliver Twist; 3 Jamie Kerr, Incy Wincy Spider.

Girls 6 to 8: No entries.

Boys 6 to 8: Ben English, clown; 2 Tom Sykes, Tarzan; 3 Robbie Taylor, Darth Vader.

Pairs — 5 and under: 1 Ben and Jack Paterson, Wallace and Gromit; 2 Dyland and Brandon Hughes, Ben 10.

9 to 11: 1 Isla English and Caitlin Kerr, clowns; 2 Ben and Beth Jaekal, punks.

12 to 15: 1 Jessica Rae and Rhona Park, Blooming Marvellous Homecoming.

Mixed ages: 1 Betty Hutt and Alison Corrie, Susan Boyle and her cat, Pebbles; 2 Kathleen and Colin Davidson, The Meerkats.

Groups

9 to 11 years: Jacob and Isaac Bell and Aiden Stradmeijer, 118 118 and the mobile phone.

Mixed age: Stacey Wright and Laura Gaff with Declan Wright, Michael Sandu, Codie Palmer, Demi Palmer, Leah Smith and Logan Payne as Bertie and Bessie Bassett and their liquorice allsorts.

Floats

Overall winner: Lochmaben Rainbows, Brownies and Guides, 101 Dalmatians.

Children’s Section: 1 Lochmaben Rainbows, Brownies and Guides, 101 Dalmations; 2 Pharaohs on Parade.

Adults: 1 Carry On Naughty Nuns; 2 The Burgh Hoola Hoola Rejects.

Mixed: 1 Pesky Pirates; 2 Homecoming Scotland; 3 It’s Party Time.