Elphin Chicken day returns quirkier than ever with humans replacing poultry!
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The biggest chicken event of the year, Elphin Chicken Day, returned last month but with a twist – no chickens allowed.
Organisers were forced to ban birds from the renowned event this year due to the ongoing threat of avian flu. But the setback was turned into a triumph with some out of the box thinking – local people were invited to take the place of poultry by dressing up as chickens!
Rolling with the quirky idea, new categories were introduced for the chicken lookalikes to enter including Best Chicken Costume and Best Chicken Impersonation. And of course, the famous Elphin Chicken Race could not be left out.
Event organiser Helen O'Keefe scooped the prize for Best Adult Costume and took the opportunity on receiving it to hammer home an important message.
She said: "This costume is an environmental statement about the use of single-use-plastics and the harm that it does to the environment. There are too many of these in our society today."
The Best Children's Chicken Costume award was won by Charlotte Curley.
Christy Okie took home the award for Best Adult Chicken Impersonation, after she wowed the judges by supposedly laying an egg during her performance! The Best Children's Chicken Impersonation was won by Sandy Curley
Photos of real chickens were submitted for the chicken beauty contest categories. The Most Handsome Cockerel award went to Connor Ross' cockerel George, and the Prettiest Hen award was taken home by Emeri Moyne's hen Georgette.
In the new Best Handcrafted Chicken competition, entries were made of egg cartons, paper mache, and even featured a hand-carved wooden entry. The winner was Charlie MacLeod with a chicken decorated in real chicken feathers.
The winners of the school’s competitions were Inga from Ullapool Gaelic Nursery, Flòraidh from Ullapool Primary for the P1-3 competition, and Andrew Sorley Munro for the P4-7 section.
The highlight of the day was of course the famous Elphin Chicken Race. All the runners had to be in costume for the race, and the costume had to be intact at the end of the race.
The adult winner of the Golden Egg Cup Trophy was Ross Tanner – rumour says he will be back next year to defend his title! Winner of the children's race was Jovi De Gracia.
Following the event Helen O'Keefe paid tribute to all those who put in their time and effort to make it such an enjoyable day out.
She said: "An event like this cannot be such a success without the help of the volunteers who gave their time before, during and after the event and local people and businesses who donated prizes. A big thanks to all of you for your generosity and donations which made this year’s Elphin Chicken Day such a great day."
