HEAVY rain brought a village gala to an early close.

But not before crowds had enjoyed a range of attractions and entertainment.

Harden’s 45th annual children’s gala on Saturday began as normal with a parade.

It was led by the New Orleans Jazz Band and included vintage vehicles, fancy dress entrants and the Wakefield Miss Unique Majorettes.

The gala was officially opened at the memorial park by Gala Queen Lucy Crowther, with attendants Poppy Overend and Isabelle Vidler-Hurt.

Attractions on the field included games, a roundabout, bouncy castles and slides, a tombola and raffle.

The band and majorettes entertained and there was a performance from a magician.

Children’s races had just got underway when the weather turned.

“The downpour effectively ended the gala,” said spokesman Peter Bashforth.

“The races were discontinued and most of the other attractions closed down.

“But things could have been much worse. We had been able to prepare in the week preceding and on the morning of the gala unhindered.

“Furthermore a large crowd came and had two hours of fine entertainment in dry weather, and after the storm we were able to put most things away dry.

“The committee would like to thank all those people who helped and supported us again in so many different ways.”

He added: “The fancy dress winners received their prizes after the official gala opening, but over half the medal winners in the race events had left before the abbreviated presentation was held.

“We are trying to identify the non-recipients via the local schools, but if anyone who was placed in the first three in the final of any of the races has not received their medal – or been contacted – by June 30, please let us know.”

Results:

Fancy dress – Pre-school girls 1 Clara Rayner, 2 Romilly Routh, 3 Elsie Edwards; pre-school boys 1 Joey Golden, 2 Reuben Wedderburn, 3 Jonah Wedderburn; Key Stage One girls 1 Lily Cookson, 2 Darcie Lawson, 3 Marnie Ball; Key Stage One boys 1 Max Jowett-Joyce, 2 Elliot O’Hara, 3 Dexter Miles; Key Stage Two girls 1 Esme Copland, 2 Amelia Hird, 3 Nell Toehill; Key Stage Two boys 1 Cameron Connor, 2 Aiden Connor, 3 Leo Reveley; decorated wheeled vehicle or toy 1 Albie Shaw, 2 Betsy Newhouse, 3 Harriet Gerdes and Stanley Wakefield.

Flat races – Under-5 boys 1 Theo Clark, 2 Louis Hopton; under-5 girls 1 Matilda McBride, 2 Jessica Tiler, 3 Elsie Edwards; year five boys 1 Thomas Woods, 2 Joshua Price, 3 Eran Smart; year five girls 1 Chloe Dixon, 2 Millie Smith, 3 Eva Hodgson; year six boys 1 Max Rigby, 2 Sam Arthur, 3 Olly McHale; year six girls 1 Elsie Grange, 2 Caitlin Bruzzese; year seven boys 1 Toby Salt, 2 Isaac Adamson, 3 Toby Barker; year seven girls 1 Isabelle Burrow, 2 Annabelle Lunn, 3 Isla Hodgson; year eight boys 1 Joseph Hopton, 2 William Burrell; year eight girls 1 Abigail Dunwell. 2 Pippa Walker, 3 Annie Phillips.

Potato & spoon race – boys 1 William Burrell, 2 Joshua Pullen, 3 Toby Barker; girls 1 Millie Drake, 2 Annie Phillips, 3 Pippa Walker.

Sack race – under-nine boys 1 Toby Barker, 2 William Burrows, 3 Toby Salt; under-nine girls 1 Matilda Cousins, 2 Pippa Walker, 3 Poppy Holdsworth; nine-to-12 boys 1 Fraser McDonald, 2 Peter Quail, 3 Charlie Batch; nine-to-12 girls 1 Lottie O’Keeffe, 2 Maddy Jordan, 3 Ava Barker.