By Sue Read

“CREDITON people are determined when it comes to enjoying themselves, never mind the weather,” said one stallholder at Sundays Food Festival Big Lunch as the drizzle turned to intermittent rain.

Alison Shakspeare, one of the event organisers for Crediton Arts Centre, said Sunday had been “really great” despite the weather with people around the stalls on the town square all the time, even after it had officially closed.

The marquee in the middle was set with tables for the Big Lunch, four gazebos acquired by the Town Team (Crediton Town Council) meant there was more room for people to sit to dine in the dry.

Alison added that one person had said they had never been to Crediton before and only came this time for the Food Festival.

Before lunch, the winners were announced of the second Crediton Short Story competition, sponsored by Ernest Jackson and Co Limited of Crediton.

Alison Shakspeare said: “Once again we have shown that living in Crediton means living in an international hub.

“There were double the number of entries this year drawn from around the world - writers based in Japan and the USA, in Ireland and Scotland.”

She added that it was with local help and support that the competition could be run, not to mention the judges as well as the eleven first readers who made the short list.

Final judges were Geoff Fox and Pam Barnard for the youth entries while the adult entries were judged by “local foodie” and publisher Tom Jaine and international cheese producer and writer, Mary Quicke.

Prizes were presented by Dr Sally Flint of Exeter University and editor of “Riptide” and by Rob Cereda, finance director Ernest Jackson.

In the Young Adult class first prize of a £30 book voucher or cash and Riptide Vol 6 went to Jung Woo Bae from New Zealand. Second prize of £10 book voucher or cash and Riptide Vol 6 to Nell Hodgson from Sandford.

In the adult entries the first prize of £50, a stay at The Lamb Inn, Sandford and Riptide Vols 1-11 was won by Caroline Sutherland of Ireland.

Second prize of £20 was won by Judy Leigh from Liverton near Newton Abbot. A special prize of £30 from the Crediton Courier for a local author was won by Jane Bheemah of Exeter.