WET weather failed to dampen spirits at a folk festival

which boasted a packed programme of talent.

The 31st Dartmoor Folk Festival held at South Zeal, near

Okehampton, West Devon, included performances from some of the

top artists from the folk world playing alongside the best

local musicians and singers.

Festival chairman, Jason Rice, said: "Despite the

challenging weather, it was a very successful event and

everyone had a good time.

"The only event which had to be cancelled due to the weather

was the hawk flying demonstration on Saturday afternoon.

Everything else went ahead as planned."

The Dartmoor Pixie Band got the three-day festival off to a

flying start on Thursday, when they played for hundreds of

dancing people in a huge marquee erected at South Zeal Playing

Field.

The highlights of the weekend were the Dartmoor stepdance

and broomdance championships.

The stepdance competition involved dancers trying to

out-step one another on a 15in square board to win a place in

the competition's final, which was held on an old hay

wagon.

The adult winner was Matt Norman, from Exeter, and the

junior winner was 15-year-old Zoe Davies from Starcross, near

Exeter. She was also the junior winner in 2007 and 2005 and

next year will have to compete in the adult section.

The broomdance competition, for primary school aged

children, was won by Laura Bazeley, aged 10, from South

Zeal.

Events included dances, a Dartmoor fayre, ceilidh and song

and music sessions, workshops and concerts.

Among other activities were a ramble over Dartmoor,

children's workshops and concerts, a folk service and a duck

race. Local crafts were exhibited in a craft marquee, where

there were demonstrations, including reed rope making, skip

making and spinning.

The association which organises the annual festival is

developing a children's festival as part of the main event.

Rob Pudner, children's festival coordinator, said: "The

children's festival is getting better and better.

"We have had positive feedback and we hope to build on this

success and enlarge it further next year."

Festival secretary Jane White said: "Sales of weekend

tickets were as normal this year but the afternoon tickets were

slightly down due to the wet weather. Overall there was a

really good atmosphere considering the weather."