PHOTO GALLERY: Eggy antics at Swaton Vintage Day

The annual Swaton Vintage Day and Country Fayre was held at Thorpe Latimer, incorporating the World Egg Throwing Championships.

Everyone had a cracking time, according to chairman Andy Dunlop. He said: “We were fearing the weather because last week we had over four inches of rain on the Friday and Saturday but we didn’t want to call it off.”

There was strict vehicle management on farmer William Watts’ field and the vehicle parades were called off to avoid excess damage. Some did get stuck but were pulled out.

Mr Dunlop said: “Thankfully by lunchtime it had dried out and we had a great day.”

In the World Egg Throwing Championships, the Throwing with Accuracy at a human target (world gravy wrestling champion Joel Hicks) was won by Alfie and Chloe Clifton.

The under 14s throw and catch was won by Ben and William Glendinning, while the adult men’s category was won by Haconby Hurlers and the women by the Dutch team. The static egg throwing relay was won by a scratch team on the day.

The egg trebuchet was won by a German team led by Timo Brunig which included a specialist flown in from Thailand. They constructed a machine from scrap wood, an old pallet and a bent fireguard, beating hi-tech contraptions by Haconby Hurlers, and Dutch and Bulgarian teams.

Other highlights included giant tortoises, a Hurricane flypast, over 400 vehicles on show, a craft tent and beer supplied by Heckington’s Eight-sail Brewery was so popular it sold out.

Andy said it was truly a multi-national show with over 4,000 visitors including entrants from Russia, New Zealand, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic and Ireland.

They estimate to have raised around £8,000 for local charities including Crohn’s Disease Research, selected after Mr Dunlop met Keira Beeson of Sleaford who received a Rotary Children of Courage Award for raising funds for research depsite having the disease herself. Planning for next year will start next week.