It’s off and running!

Aug 1 2008 by Lynn Duke, Strathearn Herald

FOLLOWING a prayer by the Rev. Graham McWilliams, the Comrie Fortnight was officially opened last Saturday by Ewen Stewart. He gave praise to the enthusiastic committee who work so tirelessly to ensure the event is enjoyed by everyone.

The riverside was packed with people supporting the various stalls to raise funds for local organisations and the afternoon culminated in the eagerly awaited duck race with the little yellow fellows bobbing down the river in near perfect conditions earning £800 for the PTA and Comrie Toddlers.

Later, Comrie Pipe Band gave a performance in Melville Square and the evening finished with a fiddlers’ rally in the White Church.

Days two and three were blessed with sunshine (thanks to Rev. McWilliams?) - ideal for the water activities on Loch Earn on Sunday and Monday’s well attended pram derby, which saw many visitors to the village enter into the spirit of things as well.

A huge crowd congregated at the top of Dalginross for the fancy dress judging which this year was carried out by Laura and David Hustwaite.

Then, led by Comrie Pipe Band, the crazy contraptions paraded to Mid Square for the start of the races.Controversy arose, however, in the over 16s pairs category and a steward’s enquiry (an enquiry by Stewart, anyway) was needed when it was realised that Amy Winehouse was off her trolley half way to the finish line.

The quiz night was another great success with money raised oing to White Church funds.

Results: Duck Race: 1 Val McFarland and Bernie (Clark the Spark); 2 Shirley Wilson (Working Girl); 3 Emma Grant (Wild About Harry). WRI Hamper: Mary Dawson.

Quiz Night - maximum score possible out of 125 points - 1 (111 Points) “Three Brains & A Granny” - Mairi Crombie, Krisha Crombie, Ross Scobie, Andrew Scobie; 2 (105 Points) “M’s & Lil” - Nancy McCrae, Lilabet Steinka, Margaret McPhater, Ruth Murray; 3 (101 Points) “Brain Dead” - Les Paterson, Sally Paterson, Stewart Mackintosh, Morag Mackintosh.

Pram Derby: Fancy Dress- Pairs: 6-8 Years - 1 Wizard Of Oz (Matilda Clark, Alexandra Milne); 2 Honey Mooners (Ruth and Ellen Carr) 3= Darth Vader / Starwars (David Alexander, George Sheen); My Little Pony (Megan Carnegie, Abby Warwood).

9-11 Years - 1 Melville Courtyard At Last (Sacha and

Mark Bushby); 2= Dr Who & The Daleks (Patrick and

Duncan Mayman); Mamma Mia (Laura Wade and Kitty Dick).

12-15 Years - 1 Comrie Grand Prix (Douglas Guthrie,David McLelland).

16+ Category - 1 Britney & Amy Winehouse (Nicki Mowat, Sharon Carpenter); 2 Bonnie & Clyde (Ian Duthie, Robert Garner).

Groups: 6-8 Years - 1Top Gear (Thomas and Jamie Penker, Jamie Connolly, Cameron Orchard) .

9-11 Years - 1 Denis The Menace (Callum McWilliams, Robert Kesson, Finlay Hambrook); 2 Scottish Athletes (Ruaraidh Lauchlan, Finlay Brock, Dillon Clark);

3 Shrek’s Bog (Jock McDonald, Shaun Thorne, Edward Fraser). 12-15 Years - 1 St Trinians (3) (Hannah Lauchlan, Rebecca Coltart, Lindsay MacDonald, Claire Ratcliff); 2 Comrie Fire Brigade (Ewen and Andrew Stewart, Ruaridh Brown); 3 Batman RIP(Stephen Hamilton, Callum Morgan, Jack Davis). 16 + Category - 1Comrie’s Miles Better (Christine Sidey, Nan Brown, Barbara Stewart); 2 Sex & The Country (Elaine Davidson, Fiona Smith, Alison Henry, Denise Badham).

Races - Pairs:

6-8 Years - 1 Darth Vadar / Starwars ((David Alexander, George Sheen); 2 My Little Pony (Megan Carnegie, Abby Warwood). 3 Honey Mooners (Ruth and Ellen Carr). 9-11 Years - 1Mamma Mia (Laura Wade

and Kitty Dick); 2 Melville Courtyard At Last (Sacha and Mark Bushby); 3 Dr Who & The Daleks (Patrick and

Duncan Mayman). 12 -15 Years - 1

Comrie Grand Prix (Douglas Guthrie,David McLelland).

16+ Category - 1 Bonnie & Clyde (Ian Duthie, Robert Garner); 2 Britney & Amy Winehouse (Nicki Mowat, Sharon Carpenter) .

Groups: 6-8 Years - 1 Top Gear (Thomas and Jamie Penker, Jamie Connolly, Cameron Orchard). 9-11- 1 The Simpsons (Corrie Thornber, Hamish MacDonald, Michael Coull); 2 Beijing Olympics Scottish Athletes (Ruaraidh Lauchlan, Finlay Brock, Dillon Clark);

3 St Trinians (1) (Sophie and Abby Bremner, Rebecca and Megan McInnes).

12-15 Years - 1 Grease Lightning (Hannah Laycock, Juliette Caldwell, Ellie Goddard, Emily Payne, Katie Hendry); 2 St Trinians (2) (Joy Sinclair, Hannah Thomson, Laura White, Katie Stewart); 3 St Trinians (3) (Hannah Lauchlan, Rebecca Coltart, Lindsay MacDonald, Claire Ratcliff). 16 + Category 1 Sex & The Country (Elaine Davidson, Fiona Smith, Alison Henry, Denise Badham); 2 Comrie’s Miles Better (Christine Sidey, Nan Brown, Barbara Stewart).