Glorious, sunny, warm day for Ripley Winter Carnival

It was more like spring than winter, Saturday, but that didn't stop the crowd from enjoying the festivities of the Ripley Winter Carnival, held at the Ripley-Huron Community Centre.

The day began with a delicious pancake breakfast, including ham, eggs and toast, sponsored by the Egg Producers of Ontario, the Grey Bruce Pork Producers, and The Beef Way. Among the volunteers helping to whip up the meal, were a couple of Huron-Kinloss council members.

Community services director Mike Fair said more than 300 people enjoyed the meal. This is the first time the Grey Bruce Pork Producers have helped sponsor the event, he said.

Meanwhile, outside in the sunshine, Don and Cedric Scott of Teeswater had their mule team, "Pat" and "Ruby," hitched up to the sleigh and were taking people for rides through the few inches of snow remaining beside the community centre. Youngsters were also enjoying a bit of impromptu sliding in their snowsuits down a mountain of snow while waiting for a sleigh ride. The sleigh rides were sponsored by D.G. MacDonald.

Inside, the Ripley Wolves welcomed about 20 youth, in Senior Tyke, Novice, Atom and Peewee divisions, to the hockey skills competition, sponsored by Ripley Minor Hockey. The drills included speed-skating, shooting, stick-handling, and reverse-skating.

And about 40 young people and adults participated in the ice-painting, covering the arena ice surface with colourful artwork. This event was sponsored by the Ripley Agricultural Society.

The winter carnival also included senior euchre and bridge, sponsored by RVilla; hockey games, sponsored by the Hensall and District Co-op; and public skating, sponsored by HuronTel.