Plans shaping up for Loon Braes Fun Day in Rattray

Jul 19 2012 by Clare Damodaran, Blairgowrie Adv

PLANS are coming together for the Loon Braes Parknership Fun Day and the 1612 Silver Arrow Group and Lord Robert Mercer-Nairne competition next month.

Taking place on Saturday, August 4, at Davie Park in Rattray, the event is being organised in cooperation with the Strathmore Centre for Youth Development (SCYD) for the Festivals Committee.

SCYD Manager Craig Cantwell said: “The festivals committee in Blair thought that the town needed a fun day where all the different community groups come together to provide affordable fun.

“We offered to take the lead in organising things and were then approached by Neil Kennedy about joining up with the 1612 Silver Arrow Group competition.

“The competition is a serious long bow archery competition and will be a great draw for the town, bringing over 20 very skilled enthusiasts from all over the UK to East Perthshire to take part.

“The last time this competition was held was in 1727 – it has been resurrected this year for it’s 400th anniversary and we are delighted to be able to be a part of what is a pretty historic occasion.”

Neil Kennedy added: “Organised by the 1612 Rattray Silver Arrow Group, an all day archery demonstration and series of competitions will be held, starting at 10am and concluding at 4.15pm. This exciting programme will consist of a longbow archery competition, a demonstration by an English War Bows group, novelty shooting and possibly a ‘have a go session’.

A lady and gent winner will be declared.

Parade

“The tournament will be preceded by a parade of the archers and followers – some from as far afield as the north of England, Ayrshire and the Highlands – starting at Old Rattray Cross at 10.45am and proceeding from there to the football ground.

“The Silver Arrow Group and Lord Robert Mercer-Nairne have worked closely on this event and we are indebted for the support we have had so far. Should it have plans for the future development of the event.”

Some of the other events and attractions at the fun day will include the Flying Kitchen Theatre Company, jam making masterclasses and a barbeque run by Love to Eat, nature themed and art workshops run by stART, face painting, bouncy castles and sumo suits, birds of prey, cake and candy stalls, refreshments, international sock wrestling and performances from both Alyth Pipe Band and Blairgowrie and Rattray Drum Corps.

There will also be a spinning and loom demonstration from Ashley Slater who did a stART workshop four years ago on spinning and has since gone on to do a degree in the craft.

A number of local community groups will have a presence at the event with stalls including SCYD, One Voice, Blair in Bloom, Blairgowrie and Rattray Tennants Association and Eastern Perthshire Neighbourhood Watch.

Craig said: “It would be great if this event could grow and evolve into a charities fun day where all the money raised went to local groups.

“By joining up with the 1612 Silver Arrow Group competition we think that it could have great potential and could bring lots of visitors to the area.”