All the fun of the festival

To celebrate the grand depart of this year’s OVO Energy Women’s Tour, a special festival was held in Beccles on Sunday, June 9. Pictures: Mick Howes (Image: Archant)

Hundreds of people turned out in Beccles on Sunday, June 9 as part of a special festival event to celebrate the grand depart of this year's OVO Energy Women's Tour.

Two of the teams competing in The Women's Tour - D R O P S and Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank - answered questions ahead of the main event, which hit the startline in Beccles on Monday.

A successful Beccles Triathlon, live music from The Larks, Distant Sun and Cameron Taylor and opportunities to have a go on a mobile skatepark were all enjoyed along with displays from freestyle bike team, Savage Skills, fitness challenges and a variety of stalls.

Norfolk and Waveney's cancer charity, Big C, was crowned as the winner of the best window display competition and Laverne Colk, manager of the Big C charity shop in New Market, Beccles said: "It's absolutely fantastic - all the volunteers are so pleased."

To celebrate the grand depart of this year’s OVO Energy Women’s Tour, a special festival was held in Beccles on Sunday, June 9. Pictures: Mick Howes (Image: Archant)

East Suffolk councillor for the Beccles and Worlingham ward, Graham Elliott, got on a bike ahead during the festival and said: "This is a great thing for Beccles, particularly to have the start of the Tour in the town - it is putting Beccles on the map."

To celebrate the grand depart of this year’s OVO Energy Women’s Tour, a special festival was held in Beccles on Sunday, June 9. Laverne Colk, manager at Big C cancer charity shop in Beccles, with the best shop window display. Pictures: Mick Howes (Image: Archant)

To celebrate the grand depart of this year’s OVO Energy Women’s Tour, a special festival was held in Beccles on Sunday, June 9. Pictures: Mick Howes (Image: Archant)

To celebrate the grand depart of this years OVO Energy Womens Tour, a special festival was held in Beccles on Sunday, June 9. Pictures: Mick Howes (Image: Archant)

To celebrate the grand depart of this years OVO Energy Womens Tour, a special festival was held in Beccles on Sunday, June 9. Pictures: Mick Howes (Image: Archant)

To celebrate the grand depart of this years OVO Energy Womens Tour, a special festival was held in Beccles on Sunday, June 9. Pictures: Mick Howes (Image: Archant)

To celebrate the grand depart of this year’s OVO Energy Women’s Tour, a special festival was held in Beccles on Sunday, June 9. Pictures: Mick Howes (Image: Archant)

To celebrate the grand depart of this year’s OVO Energy Women’s Tour, a special festival was held in Beccles on Sunday, June 9. Another shop window display entrant. Pictures: Mick Howes (Image: Archant)