However fine weather prevailed through until Saturday, and although it was very muddy underfoot, the sun came out and shone on the competition at Stroud Showground.

Saturday marked the 49th annual festival between the four townships of Stroud in Canada, United Kingdom, United States and Australia.

Secretary-manager of the local competition Rebecca Dickinson said there was a really good crowd and lots of competitors.

“In the open competition of both the brick and rolling pin sections competitors came as far away as Wollongong and the Illawarra areas,” Ms Dickinson said.

“In the international section, competitors have to be within a 50 mile radius of Stroud and the local competition was strong.

“Even though you tend to see the same faces, the local children are getting older and stronger and more competitive.

“In a few years time we should have some great throwers.”

In the last two years Australia’s Stroud has won the international competition in both the brick and rolling pin sections.

“However it was really muddy underfoot and very hard for competitors to get traction,” Ms Dickinson said.

“So perhaps we may not be as good this year.

“With the competition being held in the middle of the school holidays, lots of people were away and this impacted on the number of floats in the parade.

“Next year, which will be the 50th competition, it should fall on the last Saturday of the holidays which will be better.

“However the quality of the floats was excellent and there were also 60 vintage cars from the Wollongong-Illawarra and Newcastle vintage car clubs.

“A number of these cars stayed and parked around the ground with the owners encouraging people to stop and have a look.”