Knaresborough Lions Archives - The Stray Ferret

Boy, 13, cautioned for assaulting police officer at Knaresborough bed raceKnaresborough Beer Festival returns this weekendEverything you need to know about the Great Knaresborough Bed RaceGALLERY AND VIDEO: Huge crowds watch Boxing Day tug of war in Knaresborough

A huge crowd and fabulous Boxing Day weather ensured a fantastic atmosphere at the traditional Boxing Day tug of war over the River Nidd in Knaresborough.

Teams representing the Half Moon Free House and the neighbouring Mother Shipton Inn take part in the festive fun annually at Low Bridge. Lining up on opposite river banks, they try to pull each other towards the water’s edge.

Town crier Mark Hunter provided commentary from the bridge and besides the two pubs, Rooster’s Brewing Co kept the ale flowing with an outdoor bar.

The Mother Shipton women’s team — featuring members of Harrogate Railway FC — started the day’s sport by winning 2-1. Here we see the Half Moon team sliding towards the river in the opening pull.

The Mother Shipton men’s team then overcame the Half Moon team by the same margin, after a gargantuan second pull that lasted several minutes.

Every pull was won by the team based on the Mother Shipton side.

Knaresborough Lions provided traffic management on a day that also generated funds for Frank’s Fund, a charity set up by the Ashton family in 2019 following the death of their 14-year-old son, Frank, to Ewing sarcoma, a form of bone cancer.

Here are some photos from the day.

The victorious Mother Shipton team.

Crowds on the river bank.

Town crier Mark Hunter calls the action.

Competition for the best viewing spots was fierce.

The weather was glorious.

The view towards Mother Shipton Inn.

The Rooster’s outside bar.

Town crier Mark Hunter kept the crowd informed.

Hundreds of people lined the banks of the Nidd and Low Bridge.

Boxing Day tug of war returns to Knaresborough

Pub pride will be at stake tomorrow when Knaresborough’s annual tug of war match over the River Nidd takes place.

The festive fun and frivolity sees teams from the neighbouring Half Moon and Mother Shipton Inn take the strain on either side of the river and try to pull each other towards the water’s edge.

Nobody actually enters the Nidd these days but the sight of locals holding a specially made long rope and trying to avoid sliding down a muddy bank is something to behold, and attracts a huge crowd of up to 1,000 people.

Half Moon landlord Tom Clarkson, who is organising the event, said the Knaresborough town crier would be introducing the event and Knaresborough Lions would marshal the crowds that gather in the narrow area.

The event will also raise money for Frank’s Fund, a charity set up by the Ashton family in 2019 following the death of their 14-year-old son, Frank, to Ewing sarcoma, a form of bone cancer.

Last year’s tug of war — the first after covid — was won by default by the Half Moon, which entered teams on both sides of the river, but Mr Clarkson said he hoped the two pubs would both provide men’s and women’s teams this year.

Drinks will be available from 11am and there will be an outside bar run by local brewery Roosters.

The action gets underway beneath Low Bridge at high noon and will feature best of three pulls between separate men’s and women’s teams.

Mr Clarkson said:

“It’s a cracking day that we hope will raise a lot of money for Frank’s Fund.”

Bed race and beer festival success lead to grants in Knaresborough

Knaresborough Lions is inviting local organisations to apply for grants.

The Lions organises annual events such as Knaresborough Bed Race and the town’s beer festival and is using funds raised to support organisations in Knaresborough, surrounding villages and the wider Nidderdale area.

The Lions Community Fund will award grants to one-off projects.

The charity advised applications “will be considered only from properly constituted organisations rather than from individuals”.

Knaresborough Lions president Bob Godsell said:

“We have staged similar funding opportunities in the past before the outbreak of covid. Though we maintained help for local people during the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the effect of these was to seriously reduce our fundraising activity.

“Happily, over the past couple of years, matters have recovered, and we are now once more in a position to help. We welcome applications from any local groups involved in providing services in their community.”

Lions president Bob Godsell (left) and past president Richard Hall.

Applicants are advised to indicate the costs of the proposed project and the amount of grant requested.

There is no upper limit to applications, but, in previous years, requests have ranged from £100 to £1,000.

Applications forms must be submitted by November 30 at 5pm.

Knaresborough basks in sun and ale at Picnic in the Park

Almost 500 people attended Picnic in the Park in the gloriously sunny gardens of Knaresborough House this afternoon.

The free five-hour event, which featured four live bands and two DJs, is a highlight of the town’s 10-day arts festival Feva.

Knaresborough Lions Beer Festival was held alongside the picnic.

Knaresborough has been decked in Feva pink for the annual late summer festival.

It ends tomorrow with Harrogate Spa Town Ukes playing on the High Bridge gardens and a poetry evening at Mother Shipton’s Inn.

The beer festival also finishes tomorrow at Knaresborough House.

Feva chairperson Gwen Lloyd, who has attended dozens of events during the festival, said she was delighted with how it has gone:

“It’s been really well attended. We have a four-pronged format of street entertainment, visual art, music and spoken word.

“Now it’s a question of developing it and taking a few risks.”

You can watch a live video of today’s picnic on our Facebook page here.

Here are some photos from Knaresborough House today.

The team from Feva.

Knaresborough House provided the backdrop.

Knaresborough Lions took care of visitors’ thirst.

The stage featured live acts throughout the day.

Knaresborough prepares for three-day beer festival

Knaresborough’s festival feel this month will be lubricated by the return of the town’s annual beer festival.

Beer will be flowing from 5pm on Friday, August 18 to Sunday, August 20 at Knaresborough House. Entry is free.

Knaresborough Lions has once again organised the event as part of the town’s 10-day arts festival Feva.

Drinkers will be able to choose from 22 beers and seven ciders, along with lager, Prosecco, wine, Aperol Spritz and non-alcoholic drinks. There will also be a burger bar.

The beers include local favourites from Harrogate-based Roosters Brewing Company and other Yorkshire breweries as well as ales from further field, including Cornwall and Norfolk.

Ciders range from a traditional scrumpy to a perry or a marmalade-flavoured offering.

The main date is the Saturday afternoon when the beer festival will run alongside Feva’s Picnic in the Park at Knaresborough House.

Lions president Bob Godsell said:

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed for sunshine again this year.

“Our profits from the beer sales help finance Picnic in the Park, so we’re looking forward to people being able to enjoy the live music with a delicious pint in hand.”

Visitors can buy a starter pack of six tokens for £12 which entitles them to three pints and a commemorative glass. Otherwise tokens will be on sale for £2 each with all pints priced at £4.

Sessions run from Friday 5pm-11pm, Saturday midday-11pm and Sunday midday-5pm — or until the beer runs out.

Further information, including taster notes, is available on the Knaresborough Lions Facebook page.

Photo shows (left to right), Lions Lynn Nudds, Jeremy Crow, Mark Flood, Martin Brock, Jon Smithells, Tony Pedel and Matt Walker

Knaresborough’s 10-day arts festival set to begin — despite Facebook hack

Knaresborough’s annual summer arts festival Feva will begin on Friday with a 10-day programme of about 80 events.

Feva has become one of the town’s main events of the year, with many shops decorated in promotional pink as part of a window competition organised by Knaresborough and District Chamber.

First held in 1996, this year’s line-up include a talk by book editor Ana Sampson on the hidden history of woman writers, an outdoor performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Status Quo tribute act Status Faux.

Picnic in the Park, a free afternoon event at Knaresborough House featuring bands and DJs, takes place on August 19.

With Knaresborough Lions‘ three-day beer festival taking place on the same weekend, the town will be in celebratory mode.

Shop windows are decorated in Feva pink for the festival.

However, preparations have been hit by the Feva Facebook page being hacked,

Gwen Lloyd, chairperson of the Feva committee, said it had done everything possible to take back control of the site or even get it removed but Facebook had not acted.

A new Feva Facebook page with details of events is available here.

Ms Lloyd said:

“It’s been very frustrating. We’ve had to set up a new page and getting people to realise has been tricky.

“The old Facebook page is now under the control of someone in Vietnam. We can’t even get Facebook to close it down.”

Feva, which was founded by the late Derrick van Zelst and his son Robin, includes a combination of free and paid-for events.

It was initially called Knaresborough and was more of a folk festival, but changed its name to Feva — which stands for ‘festival of entertainment and visual arts — in 2001.

Gallery: Huge crowds bask in sun at Knaresborough bed race

Knaresborough was a sea of colour and joy today as huge crowds turned out for the annual bed race.

The event was first staged in 1966 and appears to be going stronger than ever, judging by the turnout and enthusiasm displayed today.

Ninety teams of seven took part in the 2.4-mile route through the town, which culminated in crossing the River Nidd.

A team representing builders merchants GH Brooks stormed to victory in the men’s race once again, but were pushed close by Ripon Runners. It was the fourth time in succession GH Brooks has taken the title.

Ripon Runners, however, took first place in the women’s race.

Competition was equally fierce in the Best Dressed Team competition just before the race.

A team called The Rocketmen took the accolade for a Jurassic Park-themed bed that featured animatronics.

They then led the parade from the castle through town to Conyngham Hall where the race started and finished. The parade had only just got underway when it had to be temporarily halted due to a person falling ill.

Organised by Knaresborough Lions, a large army of volunteers helped to keep things running smoothly on a day of unbroken sun.

Here are some photos from the day.