Dragonfest brings crowds to Llandyssil

Monday 12th September 2011, 11:10AM BST.

Come on then! Billy Davies, four, from Abermule Primary School, takes on Ray Jones dressed as a dragon during Dragonfest at Llandyssil, near Montgomery.

Hundreds of people flocked into a Powys village at the weekend as dozens of people dressed as dragons to celebrate the annual Dragonfest and raise funds, writes Anwen Evans.

Organisers of the event in Llandyssil, near Montgomery, said Saturday’s event had been incredibly successful.

Tim Halford, one of the organisers, said up to 500 people had turned out. He added that more than £1,400 had been raised for the completion of the renovation of the Old School Hall in Llandyssil and the development of a better storage area and small meeting room.

He said: “In spite of a terrible weather forecast, the sun once again shone. The procession went extremely well, and we had children from Abermule, Forden and Montgomery schools dressed up in dragon costumes.

“It was led by Montgomery town crier Sue Blower and Montgomeryshire AM Russell George kindly agreed to come and open the event.

“Highlights throughout the day included the birds of prey from Hawksdrift, singing from Brian Pugh and Paul Dark, the Llandyssil Olympics and a fancy dress, its a knockout, which was narrowly won by a team from Abermule, various stalls, games, entertainment, refreshments and Dragon roast.

“Numbers were down on previous years but after costs more than £1,400 was raised for the development of the Old School Hall,” he added.

The Llandyssil Dragonfest has been running for five years and is now an established fixture on the calendar.

Montgomeryshire AM Russell George today praised the organisers for a well run event.

“Its great to see the Dragonfest go from strength to strength since it first started,” he said. “The schools and parents that took part obviously put a lot of work into the costumes.”

View more: Llandyssil news, Montgomery news, Powys news.