Furnace Fun Weekend – madness for all

Furnace, the Loch Fyneside community that funded its own week-long programme of events in August last year under Homecoming Scotland 2009, has decided to keep the fun flowing.

This year the village is running a weekend of events – open to everyone – from 27th – 29th August 2010

Family Ceilidh

The weekend  – literally- kicks off with a Family Ceilidh on Friday 27th August – in the Village Hall – an ’8 ’til late’, live music, BYOB affair.

Furnace Pet and Garden Show

Saturday 28th starts gently for those unable to move after the exertions of the night before. The Furnace Pet and Garden Show – you have to see this one – is in the Hall from 10.00am with judging (how?) starting at 11.00am.

Pet classes

- and anyone’s pets from anywhere are welcome.

• smallest pet
• largest pet
• most unusual pet
• dog with the waggiest tail
• best pet in show

The judge is from the Dalriada Vets practice in Lochgilphead

Garden produce classes

• 4 vegetables on a plate (and the village is expecting an imaginative response to this one from Mike and Syb Masters of the Furnace Stores, whose creative capacities know few bounds
• container of wild flowers
• container of cultivated flowers
• miniature garden – no more than 30cm (12″) square or diameter

As part of the show there are also photo competitions (classes: Flowers; Pets); and a Guess the Weight of the Marrow competition.

Furnace Football

Following last year’s hugely successful match (and the cheerleaders – above) – which saw some great play – there is a rematch by popular demand between the Over 30s and the Under 30s. This is on the Furnace’s enviably scenicm lochside full-size Football Pitch at 3.00pm.

Pipe Band, ‘Pimp my Wheelbarrow’ Race and Village BBQ

Sunday 29th August brings the weekend of fun to an end with a series of entertainments.

The ever popular Mid Argyll pipe band will play before the maddest event of them all tips off: the Pimp my Wheelbarrow Race.

This starts at 2.00pm at the Furnace Health Centre and runs – sorry, limps – -cruelly uphill from there to the Furnace Inn. There are prizes for the ‘Best pimped’ Junior and Senior entries.

Some awesome contestants  from last year are seen below.

Barby at the Inn

Contesants and spectators are by now – by wonderfully judicious programming – in the right place at the right time for the Barby at the Furnace Inn. Nuff said.

Tickets, prices and rules

Even in Furnace, the land of the free, there are some rules.

Pet and Garden Show rules:

• Pet Show dog entrants must be on a lead and under control at all times. (What about the bull the farm might enter to take the largest pet award? Only joking.)
• Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• The judges decision is final.
• Vegetables and flowers in the Garden Produce competitions should be home grown (except for the wildflowers)

Pimp my Wheelbarrow Race rules:

• No propulsion devices are allowed in the Wheelbarrow Race.
• Wheelbarrows must have a maximum of three wheels.
• Barrows may be pushed or pulled – in teams of 2, with one  onboard and the other pushing/pulling.
• Team roles swop at the halfway mark.
• All competitors must wear safety helmets.
• The Steward’s decision is final.

Tickets and prices:

Tickets are available from the Furnace Stores and the Minard Stores.

• Family Ceilidh: Individual £5; Family £10
• Pet and Garden Show: Competitions 50p per entry  on the day