Return of Elphin egg-stravaganza after Covid break attracts more chicken enthusiasts than ever

Elphin Chicken Day returned last Saturday, September 17, with a bigger turnout of chicken enthusiasts than ever seen at the popular, rural egg-stravaganza.

The feathery festival at Elphin Community Hall, which was cancelled during the coronavirus pandemic, featured challenging but egg-citing games such as Chuck a Chook and Throw the Egg as well as a chicken beauty pageant.

There was also music throughout the day by Ullapool local Christie Okie, who got into the spirit of the event by dressing up as a chicken, and Steven Paterson.

The highlight of the afternoon was the hilarious chicken race. First place went to Penelope Peckstop with Freeranger a close runner-up. Third placed was Hulk.

As always, the chicken race had lots of drama, including Lochinver resident Abbie Nelson’s feisty hen, named Spanish, starting a fight in the middle of the race, before running in the opposite direction of the race track.

Everyone put their imagination to work on the best dressed chicken cage competition and the cages were indeed a sight to behold.

There were memorable entries such as castles, and “underwater fish-hens”. Particularly noteworthy were Velociraptor-chickens in a Jurassic Park themed cage.

The art competitions showcased the creativity of local children who transformed egg cartons into a wide range of fantastical structures.

Susan Rowe, who organises the event, said both spectators and participants had been very enthusiastic and it had been a great day despite disappointing weather.

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