Rhayader, the oldest town in Mid Wales, plays host this week to the Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championships with teams from all over the world competing. As part of the official opening ceremony, on Wednesday 23rd June at 6.30pm, CARAD (Community Arts Rhayader and District) will be leading the parade of international teams with their giant copper oroborous dragon made by local artist Richard Taylor with more than 5000 people from all over the world.
Specially created flags that represent the remote rural parishes around Rhayader will be carried by local young people and bringing up the rear will be a newly created ‘Gigante’ Fisherman complete with giant fishing flies hooked into his cap and a five-metre long rod!
Also in exhibition as part of the official welcome ceremony will be CARAD’s stunning applique fabric dragon hanging as well as their painted, appliqued and embroidered community map that depicts much of the area’s history, including historic buildings of unique national importance such as the old Rhayader Tannery and Cilewent Longhouse – both now at St Fagans.
Competing teams arriving at the headquarters of the championship will be met by a striking new banner created by highly skilled participants including local WI Craft Groups and the Welsh Heritage Quilting Association in a project coordinated by artists Sue Purcell, Cath McNidder and Krysia Bass. The project generated a high level of participation from individuals at recent CARAD open workshops including one participant from Australia who got involved while visiting relatives in Rhayader who couldn’t get over the scale of commitment that people from the community give to CARAD projects – particularly the creation of the Museum and Gallery. On leaving she said she would have liked to be able to ‘bottle it and take it home’.
CARAD Chair of Trustees, Peter Cox, said, ‘This is a great opportunity for CARAD to support a hugely significant international sporting event in mid Wales. Once again our rural community is demonstrating its hunger to express its creativity and community values on this very high profile occasion.’
Alan Lewis, Treasurer of Rhayader & Elan Valley Angling Association and Rhayader Co-ordinator for the Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championship 2010 said, ‘ We are extremely grateful to CARAD for the support they have given in preparation for the Opening Ceremony and Grand Parade of Teams. We are very proud to have such a wonderful Community Arts organisation in Rhayader which is always on hand with advice, expertise and practical help for organisations and events in the area.”
