PICTURES: Youngsters turn out in force for Wick Gala Week fancy-dress competition
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A stormtrooper, a ballerina, an astronaut, three fairies and several Barbies were among the contestants in Wick Gala Week's fancy-dress parade.
Youngsters turned out in force in an array of colourful, creative, imaginative outfits, watched by family members and other onlookers at the Braehead on Tuesday night.
As always, the judges had a difficult task choosing the winners in the various age categories.
Gala queen Abby Dunbar was there to hand over prizes and at one point she came face to face with a "mini" gala queen – six-year-old Dakota MacBeth, who took first place in her section, complete with her own crown and royal robe.
Wick RBLS Pipe Band played at the start of the event. The weather was cool but mostly sunny.
Event organiser Anderina Cass, from the Wick Gala Committee, said: “It's a beautiful evening. Yes, it's a bit breezy and a bit chilly, but at least there's no rain and the sun is shining.
"It's lovely seeing all the bairns dressed up and so much effort that parents put in. We always get a really good turnout, which is nice to see.
"It's lovely that so many people come just to watch. They've maybe not got anybody participating, they just come out to see all the bairns dressed up."
After announcing all the winners, Wick community councillor Joanna Coghill said: "It's great to see so many people. When we were doing this 40 or 50 years ago we had the same amount of folk, and after all this time it's still in the programme."
Results – U3 girls: 1 Phoebe Grant, Shower Loofah; 2 Sarah Marie Higham, Wildcat Rider; 3 Mia Miller, Hot-Air Balloon. U3 boys: 1 Cooper Mackenzie, Clown; 2 Jude Shearer, Elton John; 3 Logan Stewart, Mickey Mouse.
U5 girls: 1 Lois Wann, Jewellery Box; 2 Eleni Sinclair, Astronaut; 3 Eva Green, Tooth Fairy. U5 boys: 1 Oliver Nicolson, Cuckoo Clock; 2 Freddy Lyall, Freddie Mercury.
Girls, 5 and 6: Dakota MacBeth, Mini Gala Queen. Boys, 5 and 6: 1 Devon Manson, Hot-Air Taxi; 2 Lachie Wann, Gumball Machine; 3 Izaak Oliphant, Pothole Repairs.
Girls, 7-9: 1 Ayla Sinclair, Solar System; 2 Ohana McPhee, Boon's Prent (Christopher); 3 Anya Donaldson, North Paint Twirler Squad. Boys, 7-9: 1 Caalin Rosie, Lego Stormtrooper; 2 Myles Oliphant, Thunder Cloud.
Mixed, 10-12: 1 Fletcher Oliphant, Mouse Trap; 2 Jodie Bremner, Scooby-Doo.
Pairs, 6 and under: 1 Toby and Alfie, Mario and Luigi; 2 Ella Kean and Connor Wilson, Barbie and Ken; 3 Rayen Amin and Riley Gunn, Willie Watt Seafarers Memorial
Pairs, 7 and over: 1 Ella and Owen Miller, Mr and Mrs Potato Head; 2 Morven and Hannah Begg, Roadwork Barbies; 3 Finn and Poppy Mackenzie, Newspapers.
Groups: 1 Daisy and co, Fairies' Hill; 2 Elle and co, Barbies.
