Bob McGregor sent this write-up of the Scarecrow Festival winners. Well done to everyone who took part!

SCARECROW WINNERS

The Scarecrow Festival closing Ceilidh really rocked the old building to its very foundations, as a full house whirled the night away to traditional dances and reels. It was a great family event with many of the youngsters having fun learning new steps, while their elders paused for breath.

The music was supplied as usual by the popular McFadyen Sisters whose accordion and fiddle kept everyone on their toes for tune after tune. It probably came as a relief when the tasty pie and bean suppers were served, courtesy of the local Kandy Bar, with huge sausage rolls supplied for the children.

Norman Rennie, General Manager, and Lorna Cameron of the popular Seamill Hydro Hotel, presented prizes crafted by Chookiebirdie at Studio 117 and certificates to the lucky winners.

Mr Rennie confirmed the Hotel had been very pleased to have been a sponsor for part of this community event and presented all the Scarecrow Competition prizewinners with an unexpected bonus of Seamill Hotel gift vouchers. Lorna Cameron intends shortly to display a complete set of photographs of all competitors in the hotel foyer, for the enjoyment of guests.

SCARECROW COMPETITION: Family Group Entrants; 1^st Fran Laird, 2^nd McFadzean Family, 3^rd Mr & Mrs Dearing. Traders/Business Entrants; 1^st Cherry Orchard, 2^nd Studio 117, 3^rd Studio 24. Groups/Organisations Entrants; 1^st WK Boy's Brigade, 3^rd WK Out-of-School Care, 2^nd WK Library.

SCHOOLS COMPETITION: Caledonia Primary Saltcoats Best Dressed: WK Primary Best Group: James Reid Primary Best Hair: Skelmorie Primary Nursery Class: Most Original. The schools will be presented later with gift tokens donated by WK Rotary Club.

The winner of the £75 Grand Prize Draw was J.Allan of Largs.

Penny Sawyer, Festival Organising Group, closed the evening by thanking all who had attended and hoped everybody had enjoyed the Ceilidh as much as they all appeared to do.

She also took the opportunity of recording the grateful thanks to all businesses and traders who again supported the event unreservedly and a special thank you to WK Camera Club who again recorded the competition entries for prosperity, and hoped she would see everyone back next year.

The feedback from Town businesses has been very positive with all questioned reporting increased trade during the week. The large increase in visitor numbers was certainly helped with the exposure given on STV's Five Thirty Show film clip that went out on the Monday of Festival Week. Well done Scottish Television!

Scarecrow certificates for all entrants will be ready to uplift from Initiative Shop in Main Street, from Friday 8th August, as will a compilation CD of photographs of all this year's Competition entrants.

You can see photos of this year's winners here on s1westkilbride