Great fun for all (From Witney Gazette)

Great fun for all

1:24pm Monday 7th July 2008 in Witney

EYNSHAM villagers were out in force to celebrate the popular carnival and the 50th shirt race.

The race, similar to a pram race, attracted more than 25 teams of two, who used non-motorised modes of transport to speed around the village, stopping from pub to pub for refreshments.

Thousands of people flocked to the carnival in Oxford Road playing fields, which this year hosted a large craft fair, attracting visitors from as far as Worcester, Wolverhampton, and Newbury.

Eynsham Carnival, in its 62nd year, was also hit by the health and safety rules, that forced many floats to pull out of the procession.

But not to miss out of the event, children walked with the props that would have been used to decorate the float.

About 100 entrants took part in the procession, including a float decorated to mark the 60th anniversary of the NHS, Cubs, and Brownies, children in fancy dress, and the carnival queen, Jasmine Kidd, 15, and her deputy Tammy Sherwood, 14, who travelled in a classic open-topped car.

Thames Valley Tonight weather presenter, Simon Parkin, officially opened the carnival.

Joseph's Amazing Racing Pigs were one of the popular arena events. Crowds were encouraged to cheer on the pigs, who raced across the arena with knitted jockeys attached to their backs.

A falconry display and Irish dancers wowed the crowds, and music was performed by Coventry Silver Band, the ATC Band, from Brize Norton, and the Royal Garden Jazz Band, which has been playing at the event for about 30 years.

Organiser Kathie Tanner said about 3,500 people went to the event. She said: "It certainly went well this year, we were very pleased.

"Last year, the fair could not get in because the carnival took place a week after the floods.

"The whole village joins together to celebrate the carnival, and we are determined to keep it going."

The craft fair, which saw about 40 stalls, will also become a key feature of future carnivals.

But she also warned that people in the village must get involved in the event in the future, especially helping out on carnival day, or it could be lost.