Gala Weekend 2005

Friday 17th June
Country and Western Night - 7.30pm
SOLD OUT!

This years Friday night event was a bit different from the usual ceilidh. We decided to change the event this year to a Country and Western night in the marquee from 7.30pm.

Entertainment was provided by popular local band "The Midnight Rebels" and there was a raffle and buffet during the evening. To encourage everyone to get into the spirit of the evening there was great prizes for the best dressed cowboys and cowgirls.

Tickets went on sale in the Community Centre Box Office and were sold out in five nights - a record so far and an indication of how popular and successful these events have become over recent years!

Sorry if you didn't manage to get tickets - you'll just have to get along earlier next year.

Saturday afternoon 18th June
Gala Extravaganza from 12noon.

Saturday 18th June was Gala Day, which started at 12noon when the Gala Queen officially opened the events.

There was music and entertainment all day, some fantastic fairground rides & sideshows and more than 15 stalls run by local organisations.

Refreshments were available all day with a burger stall, tearoom, pie & Bovril stall, tuck-shop, Harkie's Ice Cream and, for the adults, the beer tent.

Attractions and highlights of the day included:

• Crowning of Gala Queen. At 12noon the Gala Queen officially opened the events.
• Old Crocks 2-2 Boca Juniors. A hard fought draw 2 - 2 saw the AFD Old Crocks retain the quaich. The crocks took the lead with a John Reid strike from distance and this was held until 5 mins after the interval by a Graham Barnes goal for Boca. The crocks took the lead through a second Reid goal but were pulled back by Boca as their striker scored 5 mins from the end. The game got a little rough and the crocks almost won it when John Reid almost grabbed a hat-trick when his shot hit the bar and rebounded away to safety. Thanks to Archie Williams who came out of retirement to referee the game and all the AFD boys for giving their time and effort in this game. (Source: Ardgowan FD web site.)
• Tuck shop and burger stall.
• Pie and Bovril stall by Ardgowan Football Development.
• Guides tearoom with home baking.
• Children's carousel.
• Bouncy Castle.
• Beat the Keeper!
• Giant Bouncy Slide.
• Laser Quest.
• Equaliser.
• Giant Inflatable Assault Course.
• "The Animal Man" came along to the Gala bringing with him a selection of animals from the well-known rabbits and Guinea pigs to the more exotic snakes, giant cockroaches and tarantulas! There was an opportunity to see some of these animals close up and, for the more daring, the chance to pet them or hold them.
• Punch and Judy show in the Community Centre.
• Tombola.
• Putting competition.
• Coconut shy.
• Wheel of fortune
• Bottle stall.
• Plant stall.
• Father's Day gifts (nice timing as this fell on the Sunday).
• Wooden toys.
• Dancing gear.
• Face-painting.
• Bookworm t-shirts.
• Balloon Race - this year's Balloon Race was sponsored by the Body Shop who have provided a fantastic prize (and who were also available for makeovers on the day). Tickets were available at the Barn Dance and on Gala Day.
• Lots of other sideshows.

This year, once again, the beer tent provided a range of alcoholic and soft drinks. There was also a wide range of soft drinks for the under-18s and drivers.

The bar was open from 12noon until 5.30pm and from 7.00pm until 11.00pm. The beer tent was then closed from 5.30pm until 7.00pm to allow things to be cleared up before the evening entertainment.

Throughout the weekend, inside the marquee was strictly a no-smoking area both for safety and for health reasons.

Saturday evening 18th June
Music and karaoke special - no charge.

After the break from 5.30 - 7.00pm to allow us to clear up and make sure that we had enough glasses washed for the evening session, the bar re-opened and entertainment continued in the main marquee with a kid's disco followed by music and a karaoke special.

There was no charge for this and everyone was welcome to come along and have a go. There was prizes for the best singers and, of course, a booby prize for the worst.

Interspersed throughout the evening there was quizzes and stand-up bingo, again with prizes.

Last year, for the first time, we had a soup kitchen and this proved so popular that we ran it again this year between 9.00 - 11.00pm in the Community Centre with a choice of soup made by the Seaview Café. We also sold hot-dogs.

Evening activities included:

• The evening started with a kid's disco in the main marquee.
• This was followed by music and a karaoke special.
  • Prizes for the best singers and, of course, a booby prize for the worst in under-16 and over-16 age groups.
• DJ.
• Quizzes.
• Stand up bingo with prizes.
• Soup kitchen.

Sunday 19th June
Ardgowan FD Gala Day
11.00am-3.00pm

To round off the Gala Weekend, Ardgowan Football Development held their annual AFD Gala Day on Sunday 19th June.

The day was a great success despite an earlier thunderstorm which changed the schedule slightly.

Moving all the training sessions to the gravel park helped make the day an even bigger success as all parents saw how disciplined the coaches and helpers were to react to the grass being waterlogged.

All were praised by Morton youth coach Joe McLaughlin who was one of the special guests on the day. Joe and Shaun Dillon (Kilmarnock) presented the awards in front of a packed marquee to the 150 kids of Ardgowan.

Joe announced the link between Morton and Ardgowan Thistle where an academy shall be set up where Ardgowan Thistle shall train under the Morton flag on nights (still to be arranged) at the Battery Park.

A cold buffet was laid on (curtousey of AFD parents who supplied all food served by the wives of the coaches).

A match was then played between a Morton under-11 select and an ATFC select where the visitors won 7 - 2 after a close fought three 20 min sessions where it was 2-2 up to the last session.

Thanks to all who helped on the day and to the boys who we see leave AFD after 4 years.
(Source: Ardgowan FD web site.)

Program as follows:

• 11.00am All children met
• 11.15am Procession
• 11:30am Training sessions and games
• 12:30pm Presentation of medals and certificates by Morton youth coach Joe McLaughlin and Shaun Dillon of Kilmarnock
• 1.30pm Tournament - ATFC teams v local guest teams
• 3:00pm End

Visit the Ardgowan Football Development web site.