Times Advocate, 1989-07-19, Page 6Page 6
Times -Advocate, July 19 1989
Ga a Days in Ailsa Craig
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Turtle racing fans- There were good crowds at the turtle races during Gala Days in Ailsa Craig. The
crowd is shown here cheering on one of their favorites during a race on Saturday. •
Turtle races a hit with crowds
AILSA CRAIG - Sunny skies
and warm temperatures brought out
good crowds out balite 14th annual
Ailsa Craig Gala Days on the
weekend.
Ailsa Craig is known as the On-
tario Champion Turtle Racing
town and this year's races didn't dis-
appoint. There were also a number
of entries into the races.
Each person or business paid $5
to enter a turtle with the winner
doubling his tnoney, $7.50 went to
the place turtle, while the show
turtle earned the entry fcc back for
hi owner. After the races on Sun-
day all of the turtles were returned
to their natural habitat in the Ausa-
bk.: River.
On Saturday 15 races with 136
• entrants were held for the children
owners and trainers, with a pall-
- cal racc thrown in for good meas-
ure, with arca mayors and reeves
. entering a turtle.
• Sunday saw 213 turtles entered in
19 races for the adult owners. At
the end of the day the winners from
each of the races went head to head
to determine a winner for the day
• and Mitch's Monster, entered by
Judy's Jean's from Lucan was the
• big winner for Sunday.
But Mitch's Monster went
against Saturday's overall winner,
Speedy Spike and owner Tom
O'Connor of Ailsa Craig to deter-
mine a grand champion.
In that race the both turtles
crossed the finish line at the same
time so they had to have a run off.
In the sccond race, it was no con-
test. Mitch's Monster took off like
a flash whcn the starting -gate was
• raised and never looked back. .‘
Turtle Master Doug McNair said
he had his hands full to make sure
none of the turtles took steroids
that might force the owners to re-
turn their money, like Ben Johnson
had to return his Olympic gold
medal after he was fotind •to have
used stcriods.
But turtle race were not the only
attraction to the Gala Days on the
weekend. Friday night was the first
game of the Pee Wee Slow -Pitch
Tournament, Opening Ceremonies,
Fireworks Display, a Teen Dance
and a Wiener Roast.
Saturday's highlight was the Gala
Days Parade through town, which
featured the Ipperwash Cadet Band,
and Forest City Pipes and Drums.
There was also Flea Market. Baby
Contest, Pet Contest, Remote Con-
trol Cars,. kids' entertainment, a
spelling bee. horseshoe pitching
and lawn darts.
Sunday's highlights included a
visit from the OPP Pipe Band, a
Passing the sash - Last year's
.Gala Days Grand Marshal, Hill
Stewart, left, passes the sash
to the 1989 Marshal Hugh
McDonald at the opening cere-
monies Friday night.
church service in the park, a petting
zoo, beef barbecue and the champi-
onship turtle races. •
The only major disappointment
for the enure event was the cancel-
lation of the model airplane display
by the Forest City Flyers, who
called Saturday morning Co say they
couldn't make their Sunday appear-
ance.
McNair said this year was one of
the best ever in terms -of the gbod
weather and estimated .the crowds to
be about 4,000. All of the proceeds
from this year's Gala Days will go
towards the proposed Recreation
Centre complex which they want to
be built in the park. •
Making a run for it
The Big One
rade.
This turtle float, built over a lawn tractor, proved a big hit in Saturday morning's pa-
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Fast cars - Remore control cars
races proved to be one of the
more popular events during
Gala Days. A make -shift track
was set-up on the baseball dia-
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Best pets - Gala Days .held a Best Pet contest Saturday afternoon. Some of the winners, all from Ail-
sa Craig, are pictured here. Left to right, I lichee! Thomson, and Tuffy (Longest Ears winner), Nathan
Walker and Tippy, (Noisiest Pet winner), 4manda Gentle and Fluffy, (Shortest Ears winner), Brian
Johnson, Dianne Jonhson and Lek:My, (Wor.4 Behaved Pet winner).
Spelling bee -,A good old-fashioned competition to test the spelling abilities of young and old high-
lighted Sunday's activities.
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