Let the village Games (From Wiltshire Times)

Let the village Games

5:00pm Friday 3rd August 2012 in Latest News By Chris Melvin

Villagers of Broughton Gifford came together for their own version of the Olympic Games, featuring “beach” volleyball, welly throwing and mackerel juggling.

The competition was organised by residents Chris Fielden and Chris Pitura, to coincide with the first official day of the London 2012 games last Saturday.

At 9.30am, a torch relay – with the torch carried by village resident and top GB athletics coach Malcolm Arnold – made its way from St Mary’s Church to the common, before events started with beach volleyball, welly-throwing, paper-plate discus and throwing the cricket ball.

Later, the action moved to the Bell on the Common for pub sports including darts, then to the Village Hall, for skittles, New-Age Kurling and bridge.

A school sports day was held at the Memorial Garden before Egerton House Farm became the venue for 50 dogs to take part in doggy dressage, obedience and show-jumping, then a human tug-of-war event and sack heaving.

Next, The Fox hosted mackerel-juggling, golf-chipping, chilli-eating and a yard of ale competition before a medals ceremony held at the village hall.

Mrs Pitura said: “It was a wonderful day – an absolutely resounding community success.”

About £800 was raised for St Mary’s Primary School during the games.