CHILDREN from Muirkirk Primary School took part in the Lapraik Poetry Festival in the village on Saturday, June 16.

Schools from across East Ayrshire were also invited to attend the competition.

From Muirkirk Primary, Jayden McMillan came first in the P1-3 competition. Skye Shaw was second and Emily McMillan was third.

The P4-6 competition was won by Mackenzie Morrison. Ciara Burns was second and Jasmin Lowe was third.

Amer Riddicks was the winner of the P7 competition with Kelsie McLean second and Eva Purdie second and third respectively.

Catrine Primary pupil Angie Leitch was the winner of the East Ayrshire schools competition. New Cumnock Primary pupils Madison Brown and Lucy Wallace came second and third respectively.

The winners are pictured above alongside Ballochmyle councillors Jim Roberts and Alyson Simmons and festival organiser Harry Murray.

CRAMBO JINGLE

ON Friday, June 15, Lapraik’s Crambo Jingle and Sang took place in St Thomas’s Hall.

There was music ranging from Burns’ classics, Irish folk, the musicians’ own folk songs and even a touch of Bob Dylan.

Poetry celebrated Lapraik, Burns, and the Scots language and there was humour, not least from the MC, Bobby McCallum, but from many more.

There was also readings from local poets Andrew Brown, Marion Casagranda, Ian Farrell and Bobby Jess.

Music came courtesy of Fifty Shades of Blue duo Lorna Jane Gracie and Mark Donaldson, Wardlaw – Billy Ormiston and Colin Mathieson – and Willie Stewart.

A raffle was held and staff at St Thomas’s provided a buffet for the guests.

The festival is an annual celebration of poetry, song and the Scots language held in memory of John Lapraik.