Saddleworth Olympics a winner despite the rain

Heading for the skies . . . the balloon release to mark 25 years of Olympic fun. Pictures by GARETH LOWE

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The heavens opened on the Saddleworth Village Olympics — but the balloons launched to mark the event’s quarter century still managed to head for the skies.

The 300 multi-coloured spheres marked the opening ceremony for the games at Churchill Playing Fields, where council staff had worked all week to get the athletics facilities into shape.

But a downpour on Saturday morning following rain last week meant volunteers had to turn out from 6am, said organiser Ben Hilton: “We had to pump off the field for about two hours, and there was more water than surface for the track events, but we had plenty of volunteers to help clear it even though the weather was horrendous.

“We did hold the junior athletics in the morning and the seniors in the afternoon, although the long jump was cancelled, and we had hundreds of supporters who are always fantastic.”

Despite the wet weather the children paraded for the opening ceremony.

Last year the games had to be postponed and there was no opening ceremony and no athletic events for a week because of the state of Churchill Playing Fields which were under water following weeks of bad weather.

But this weekend things got off to a better start and to mark 25 years of the village games, a special cake was cut by Saddleworth Parish Councillor Alma McInnes, a long standing supporter, and the two- week event was officially opened by the parish council chairman, Councillor Keith Begley.