The Ninth Thirsk and Sowerby Festival is the biggest yet and well attended...

Despite a damp start, the ninth Thirsk and Sowerby Festival was a great success last Sunday on 3rd August, on the Flatts field in Sowerby.

There was very large number of stalls to peruse or find out about local communities working hard in the district.

It was good to see so many local industries were well represented.

There were numerous, entertainments on hand in the ring or on stage to suit all tastes, ages or foods to enjoy.

Children had a wide range of play areas scattered around the site to enjoy.

Then there was the noisy fun fair to delight all ages on the go, from roundabouts to rides of many varieties.

The go karts were popular with all ages, as were all of the rides around at the fair.

The day began with the new Thirsk Mayor, Shirley Ward, opening the proceedings on the Radio YO1 stage. The staff of the local radio station YO1 were stalwarts entertaining the crowds all day and participating in helping out at events or taking part themselves, so presenters Julie Blackburn and Jayne Knowles and their backstage helpers should be thanked.

The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, whose new organization the Combined Authority Phase 1 High Street Fund Grant gave £9,000 to the Festival Committee to help fund an expensive operation, came along to meet the Thirsk Mayor and sample some of the events for himself.

The first event was a children’s fun run, with Michael, Elliot, Kathilyn and William coming from first to fourth.

The world famous local Axemore axe team, with Ian Radmore, Marin Dale and Lynne Dakin showed the North York’s Mayor the skills of axe throwing, before he was escorted around the site.

Parish councillor Chaplain Farmer and Yvonne Bowling entertained Thirsk’s Mayor in the information tent.

Then the children’s Welly Wanging took place, won by Ben, William and Charlie and the adult’s throwing session was won by Ryan Moloney, second was Connor Lloyd and third was North York’s Mayor David Skaith.


















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