THE annual Meavy Oak Fair is always a lively affair and this year was no exception.

The village fair, which is always held on the third Saturday in June, got off to a great start with a pageant by pupils from Meavy Primary School.

There was lots to keep the crowd entertained with a barbecue, hog roast, cream teas, ice creams, cakes, produce, craft stalls, bouncy castle, coconut shy, skittles, face painting and children’s entertainer Spangles the Clown.

Dartmoor Border Morris put on a great dancing display on the green and the family fun dog show had more than a few tails wagging.

For, perhaps, the more adventurous, there were water pistol fights, a crockery smash and even ‘spat the rat’.

Then there was the renowned Burrator Horseshoe Run, which attracted more than 180 runners and started and finished at the village green. The seven mile moorland run saw competitors leave from Meavy and go out over Dartmoor, via Burrator Reservoir, Sheepstor Dam, Sheepstor Summit (369 metres), Guttor Tor Summit (357m), Ringmoor Down and Meavy River.

First was Tocknell Arran from Torbay Athletics Club in a time of 41 minutes; second was James Best of Tavistock AC, in 41.37 and third Robert Hicks in 42.08. The first local was Crewe Justin, in 13th place in 47.30. The first woman home was Liz Tapper in 55.30, second Esther Veldhuizan in 56.00 and third Sharon Law in 57.35.

Organisers of Meavy Oak Fair are hoping to beat last year’s profit of more than £4,200.