PLANETS, stars and aliens all featured in Addingham Gala's parade on Saturday as children embraced this year's theme of 2017 A Space Odyssey.

Addingham Pre-School Playgroup pitched Buzz Lightyear and some cute little green aliens again the evil Emperor Zurg to take first prize for the third year running.

Crowds followed the parade to the gala field where they were warmly welcomed by compere and scoutmaster Paul Jennings. The 2017 gala queen 11-year-old Evelyn Truluck was crowned by the outgoing 2016 gala queen Tillie Harrison-Moore. Attended by her maid of honour and party of flower girls and knights, Evelyn thanked the crowd as she officially opened the gala and later set off a field of fell runners on their five mile return dash to the top of Beamsley Beacon.

The Ermysted’s Big Band made things go with a swing, and, in a new addition the local Charabar or ‘Beer Bus’ provided welcome liquid refreshment to a hot crowd. Villagers and visitors supported the stalls and activities on the field and in the marquee, polished off scones and cake and watched a record turnout for the dog show where Best in Show went to a pointer called Jurgen.

In the tug of war a strong Air Training Corps team dragged people around the field, but for the second year running the doughty Addingham women and girls beat the men and boys, possibly helped by having slightly more of them on the rope. Five hundred racing balloons soared above the trees on a refreshing breeze and disappeared into a deep blue sky as the afternoon drew to a close.

The organising group thanks the many helpers on the day, also West Yorkshire Police for helping with road closures, SJ Civils Ltd for help to clear ongoing works from the parade and fell race routes, and the Parish Council, local businesses and other sponsors for their generous support again this year.

Results

Best business frontage, 1 Hadfield Photocraft, 2 Aireworth Vets, 3 Plan-it Earth.

Best residential frontage individual, 1 28-38 Main Street, 2 82 Main Street, 3 128 Main Street.

Parade, 1 Addingham Pre-School Playgroup, 2 Addingham Primary School, 3 Drama Group.

Fancy dress under 9s, 1 Rosa Crolla, 2 Jacob Keeble, 3 Sienna Griffin.

Fancy dress 10s and over, 1 Henry Makin, 2 David Tomlinson, 3 Charlene Hodgson.

Dog show large breed, 1 Jurgen (pointer), 2 Red (retriever, 3 Pippa.

Dog show small breed, 1 Harry (cocker spaniel), 2 Holly (lasapoo) 3 Peggy (cockerpoo).

Waggiest tail, 1 Pedro (cockerpoo), 2 Ozzy (cockerpoo) 3 Alfie (wheaten terrier).

Best dog in show, Jurgen (pointer).

Pet show owner aged 9 and under, 1 Crusty (tortoise) owned by Lucy and Chloe Dinsdale.

Pet show owner aged 10 plus, 1 Albert and Joe (guinea pigs), 2 Shuffles (rabbit) owned by Megan Greensmith, 3 Roxy and Poppy (guinea pigs) owned by Prada Braithwaite-Crossley.

Best in pet show, Crusty (tortoise) Lucy and Chloe Dinsdale.

Handicraft competitions

Best in show, Sophie Knight flower arrangement.

Moonscape on a plate, 12-16 years 1 Hermione Bayntum.

Decorated stones, under 5, 1 Rose Crolla, 2 Isabel Robinson, 3 Larry Hatch. Aged 5-8, 1 Albert Whitehead, 2 Heather Crolla. Aged 9-11 years, 1 Abigail Jennings, 2 Prada Braithwaite-Crossley, 3 Orla McShane.

Limerick, under 5, 1 Rosa Crolla, 2 Isabel Robinson, 3 Larry Hatch. Aged 5-8, 1 Heather Crolla, 2 Lucy Dinsdale, 3 Beatrix Sharp. Aged 9-11 years, 1 Orla McShane, 2 Erin McShane, 3 Prada Braithwaite-Crossley. Adult, 1 Rick Glover.

Lego Model, under 5 1 Finnbar Sharp, 2 Jacob Keeble, 3 Herbie Colquoun. Aged 5-8 1 Freddie Harrison, 2 Jacob Robinson, 3 Dougie Harrison. Aged 9-11 1, Sophie Knight, 2 Orla McShane, 3 Anya Keeble.

Fresh flower arrangement, aged 5-8 years, 1 Martha Keeble. Aged 9-11, 1 Sophie Knight. Adult 1 Hermione Bayntun.

Scones, aged 5-11, 1 Lucy and Chloe Dinsdale, 2 Amelie Reddyoff. Aged 9-11, 1 Charlie Reddyoff, adult 1 Lucy Holden, 2 Sarah Reddyoff.

Photograph and the sky, aged 9-11 1 Sophie Knight, 2 Orla McShane. Aged 12-16 1 Hermione Bayntun. Adult 1 Harry Jevons, 2 Rick Glover, 3 Dionne Bryden.

Painting of the sky, under 5 1 Florence Elson-Barron, 2 Rosa Crolla, 3 Larry Hatch. Aged 5-8, 1 Lenny Hatch, 2 Megan Taylor, 3 Heather Crolla. Aged 9-11, 1 William Taylor.

Vegetable alien, aged 5-8 1 Beatrix Sharp.

Paper aeroplane, aged 5-8 years, 1 Lily Robertson, 2 Henry Robertson. Adult 1 Rick Glover.