Talk of the Town

A fun-filled affair in Bathurst

9 min read
CAGED FOR CHARITY: Lauren Brunette bravely undertook to spend 50 hours in a cage during the Bathurst Country Affair last weekend to raise funds for animal welfare Picture: JON HOUZET
CAGED FOR CHARITY: Lauren Brunette bravely undertook to spend 50 hours in a cage during the Bathurst Country Affair last weekend to raise funds for animal welfare Picture: JON HOUZET

ALTHOUGH very welcome, a steady downpour put a damper on Friday’s festivities at the recent Bathurst Country Affair (BCA).

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CAGED FOR CHARITY: Lauren Brunette bravely undertook to spend 50 hours in a cage during the Bathurst Country Affair last weekend to raise funds for animal welfare Picture: JON HOUZET
CAGED FOR CHARITY: Lauren Brunette bravely undertook to spend 50 hours in a cage during the Bathurst Country Affair last weekend to raise funds for animal welfare Picture: JON HOUZET
YOUNG SMITHY: Joash Lamerton tried his hand at some blacksmithing under the supervision of his dad Donovan at the forge at the Bathurst Agricultural Museum last Saturday Picture: JON HOUZET
YOUNG SMITHY: Joash Lamerton tried his hand at some blacksmithing under the supervision of his dad Donovan at the forge at the Bathurst Agricultural Museum last Saturday Picture: JON HOUZET
GLEAMING MACHINE: Ashleigh Norris, visiting from Cape Town, and her mom Jacquie Acheson from Port Alfred admired this vintage MG at the Bathurst Showgrounds last Saturday. The display was an added attraction during the Vintage Motocross Picture: JON HOUZET
GLEAMING MACHINE: Ashleigh Norris, visiting from Cape Town, and her mom Jacquie Acheson from Port Alfred admired this vintage MG at the Bathurst Showgrounds last Saturday. The display was an added attraction during the Vintage Motocross Picture: JON HOUZET
SISTER POWER: Sisters Cecile, left, and Tharine de Vos enjoyed watching the brawn competition during the Bathurst Country Affair last Saturday, and Tharine herself took part, also tossing a 35kg anvil Picture: JON HOUZET
SISTER POWER: Sisters Cecile, left, and Tharine de Vos enjoyed watching the brawn competition during the Bathurst Country Affair last Saturday, and Tharine herself took part, also tossing a 35kg anvil Picture: JON HOUZET
POWERFUL THROW: The winner of the brawn competition at the Bathurst Country Affair, David Hobson, in action tossing a 35kg anvil. He reached a distance of 3.56m Picture: JON HOUZET
POWERFUL THROW: The winner of the brawn competition at the Bathurst Country Affair, David Hobson, in action tossing a 35kg anvil. He reached a distance of 3.56m Picture: JON HOUZET
BEARDED WONDER: Patrick Rowley won the prize for best fancy dress beard in the beard competition held during the Bathurst Country Affair last Saturday. His beard was decorated by Tharine de Vos, who will be bringing the Bathurst Art Fair to the village later this year Picture: JON HOUZET
BEARDED WONDER: Patrick Rowley won the prize for best fancy dress beard in the beard competition held during the Bathurst Country Affair last Saturday. His beard was decorated by Tharine de Vos, who will be bringing the Bathurst Art Fair to the village later this year Picture: JON HOUZET
BEST BEARD: Anthony Vieira da Cruz is a man who knows how to look after his beard, and for his efforts he won prizes for ‘most majestic’ and ‘strongest’ beard at the Bathurst Country Affair beard competition last Saturday. The action took place at Pike’s Post at the Ploughman Picture: JON HOUZET
BEST BEARD: Anthony Vieira da Cruz is a man who knows how to look after his beard, and for his efforts he won prizes for ‘most majestic’ and ‘strongest’ beard at the Bathurst Country Affair beard competition last Saturday. The action took place at Pike’s Post at the Ploughman Picture: JON HOUZET
GOING DOWN A TREAT: Making tasty springrolls and samosas at the St John’s Church fete in Bathurst on Saturday were, from left, Amber and Anastacia Aricksamy, with their mom Yolandin Picture: JON HOUZET
GOING DOWN A TREAT: Making tasty springrolls and samosas at the St John’s Church fete in Bathurst on Saturday were, from left, Amber and Anastacia Aricksamy, with their mom Yolandin Picture: JON HOUZET
CHUCKLES OVER TEA: Delene Scarterfield, left, and Jenny Wallace enjoyed chatting over tea and cake at the St John’s Church fete at Centenary Hall in Bathurst last Saturday Picture: JON HOUZET
CHUCKLES OVER TEA: Delene Scarterfield, left, and Jenny Wallace enjoyed chatting over tea and cake at the St John’s Church fete at Centenary Hall in Bathurst last Saturday Picture: JON HOUZET
BRIC-A-BRAC: Church members admitted it had been ages since St John’s Church in Bathurst had held a fete, and people dug deep into their cupboards and garages for the white elephant table manned by Marian Walwyn, left, and Bessie Danilatos Picture: JON HOUZET
BRIC-A-BRAC: Church members admitted it had been ages since St John’s Church in Bathurst had held a fete, and people dug deep into their cupboards and garages for the white elephant table manned by Marian Walwyn, left, and Bessie Danilatos Picture: JON HOUZET
WINTER WOOLIES: Manning a table of crocheted and knitted ware at the St John’s Church fete last Saturday were, from left, Gill Walker, Pru Bradfield and granddaughter Candice Bradfield Picture: JON HOUZET
WINTER WOOLIES: Manning a table of crocheted and knitted ware at the St John’s Church fete last Saturday were, from left, Gill Walker, Pru Bradfield and granddaughter Candice Bradfield Picture: JON HOUZET
FAMILY OUTING: Dominicue Averbuch came to the St John’s Church fete in Bathurst with his children, Laura and Jack Picture: JON HOUZET
FAMILY OUTING: Dominicue Averbuch came to the St John’s Church fete in Bathurst with his children, Laura and Jack Picture: JON HOUZET
SATISFIED CUSTOMERS: Maya Stricker and Shaun Berry, with their dog Honey, sampled some wares at the St John’s Church fete at Bathurst’s Centenary Hall Picture: JON HOUZET
SATISFIED CUSTOMERS: Maya Stricker and Shaun Berry, with their dog Honey, sampled some wares at the St John’s Church fete at Bathurst’s Centenary Hall Picture: JON HOUZET
RACING THROUGH THE TREES: Bradley Harrington (259) in front with Marc Cattaneo (244) hot on his tail at the Vintage Motocross at the Bathurst Showgrounds last Saturday. Both riders are from Port Elizabeth Picture: JON HOUZET
RACING THROUGH THE TREES: Bradley Harrington (259) in front with Marc Cattaneo (244) hot on his tail at the Vintage Motocross at the Bathurst Showgrounds last Saturday. Both riders are from Port Elizabeth Picture: JON HOUZET

But by Saturday the sun was shining and it ended up being a fun-filled weekend, with something for everyone.

Most of the action took place at the Bathurst Agricultural Museum and Bathurst Showgrounds. It was an open day at the museum, with visitors able to see historical farm machinery in action, starting with a parade of old tractors to the village.

The recently completed forge was running, and people were able to see blacksmiths at work, including a very young apprentice in the form of Joash Lamerton.

Spread around Bathurst village were various craft, food and bric-a-brac stalls, and there was wine tasting at the village green.

Lauren Brunette repeated her fundraiser from last year – staying in a cage for 50 hours to raise money to sterilise animals and feed feral cats. She went into the cage on Friday night and came out on Sunday night.

The BCA also benefitted from and added value to several tie-in attractions, like the St John’s Church fete at Centenary Hall. Later in the afternoon the Pro-Carmine Choir performed at the church itself.

And at the Showgrounds, the Vintage Motocross had spectators lining the unique course as riders raced through a tree-lined grove. The Albany Vintage and Classic Motor Club also had some of their immaculately maintained vehicles on display, while the Port Alfred Rotary Club manned a well-supported food stall.

Back at the museum, raconteur and historical battle buff Basil Mills fired his cannon, and later in the afternoon weird and wonderful competitions followed, including the brawn competition outside the forge, which entailed tossing a 35kg anvil as far as possible, and a beard competition at Pike’s Post.

Men and women were game for the brawn competition – the ladies were allowed to swing the anvil for an underhand throw and the men threw from the shoulder. Each entrant was allowed five throws. After some stiff competition between friends, with best results hovering around the 2.5m mark, along came six foot nine inch David Hobson, who threw the anvil an entire metre further, winning the competition.

In the beard competition, judged by Debbie Gibson, there was a category for fancy dress beard – won by Patrick Rowley who sported feathers in his whiskers – but no one could come close to the beautifully groomed beard of Anthony Vieira da Cruz of Port Elizabeth, who won prizes for strongest and most majestic beard. It helped that Vieira da Cruz sells beard oil.