Another smashing Bathurst Country Affair

PLEASING TASTES: From left, Cheryl and Dudley van der Spuy and Bessie Mears enjoyed a cappuccino and gourmet snacks at the Bathurst Country Affair last Saturday Picture: JON HOUZET
PLEASING TASTES: From left, Cheryl and Dudley van der Spuy and Bessie Mears enjoyed a cappuccino and gourmet snacks at the Bathurst Country Affair last Saturday Picture: JON HOUZET

THIS year’s one-day Bathurst Country Affair (BCA) last Saturday was hailed as a “huge success and the best BCA ever” by organiser Tanya Schenk.

The full programme included a variety of culinary delights at local eateries as well as food stalls among the exhibitors, cooking demonstrations by Algoa FM DJ Charl Leslie, kiddies biscuit decorating, a pineapple throwing competition, bokdrol spitting competition, live music and a waitron race.

“Judging by the number of visitors at events in addition to sales and the number of vehicles in the village at any given time we estimate between 1 200 and 1 500 people attended the one-day event,” Schenk said.

MERRY MEN: Town criers Andre Malan, left, and Shane Steenkamp doing the rounds at the Bathurst Country Affair last Saturday Picture: JON HOUZET
MERRY MEN: Town criers Andre Malan, left, and Shane Steenkamp doing the rounds at the Bathurst Country Affair last Saturday Picture: JON HOUZET

Many were content to hang out in the pubs with pals, but those seeking more high-brow entertainment headed to St John’s Anglican Church at 2.30pm for a concert by the popular Pro-Carmine Choir from Grahamstown.

The buskers’ stage behind the 60s Pub was the setting for a demonstration by the highly polished young dancers of the Bathurst Dance Sport group from Nolukhanyo, who delighted the audience with their dancing skills.

Young and old alike were thrilled with a mobile display of the tractors from the Bathurst Agricultural Museum. Children and adults had the opportunity to sit on one of the historical mechanical beasts that are kept in good working order by a team of dedicated volunteers.

Aside from some light drizzle, the rain held off for most of the day, but started really coming down during the waitron races at the Bathurst Green. It did not deter entrants who queued for the opportunity to tackle the obstacle course – first balancing a tray with a bottle and glasses, and then carrying four plates.

The Stables boomtown burgers won the waitron races.

The winner of the “hairiest bugger in Bathurst” beard competition was Petri Koortzen, who also claimed the men’s title in the bokdrol spitting, with a 15m spew. The top woman was Belinda, no surname provided, at 8m.

In the pineapple throwing, the men’s winner was John (no surname) with a 36.2m toss, and the ladies’ winner was Megan (no surname) with 14.24m.

Doing it for the children was Armand van der Merwe with a 3.8m throw.

MECHANICAL BEAST: Bathurst Agricultural Museum chairman Alan Pike led the parade of tractors at the Bathurst Country Affair Picture: JON HOUZET
MECHANICAL BEAST: Bathurst Agricultural Museum chairman Alan Pike led the parade of tractors at the Bathurst Country Affair Picture: JON HOUZET

“We have received tremendous feedback from exhibitors as well as local businesses with several stating it was their most successful trading day ever,” Schenk said.

The SPCA raised R800, the Pro-Carmine Choir raised R3 300 for the Sunshine Coast Feeding Scheme and the BCA-sponsored “give a fork” initiative raised R430 for the Bathurst Primary School.

“The visitors to the event all seemed to have an absolute ball. Everyone had a smile on their face,” Schenk said.

She thanked the volunteers, especially Louwrens Orsmond, Lucille and Lisa Came, Lizz Briggs and Lihani van der Merwe.

Next year’s BCA will take place from early evening on August 4 and ending late on August 5.