Beer festival’s toast to rugby league champs

This year’s Dewsbury and Heavy Woollen Beer and Cider Festival will feature a 1973 Champions bar in honour of the legendary team.

Festival chairman Alan Mapplebeck said: “We will be trying to stock this bar with beers associated with some of the players and the sport itself along with a couple of special beers brewed by local breweries to celebrate the event.”

Thousands are expected to visit the three day event, which opens on May 16.

The festival, organised by the Heavy Woollen branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), will be held at Dewsbury Town Hall for the fourth consecutive year.

Organisers are planning a Spotters Bar with 20 beers from across Britain which are rarely stocked in this area as well as the usual Yorkshire Bar, Cider Bar and World Bar.

Visitors to evening sessions can also look forward to live music from Blackstone Edge, Dewsbury Music Centre Swing Band and Fat Stanley.

Charitable donations will be split by three rugby league causes – the Steve Prescott Foundation, Try Assist and the Ryan Glynn Fund – and the Christie. Former Dewsbury Rams player Mr Glynn was injured while playing for Shaw Cross Sharks in March.

Special report: Microbreweries, pages 12 and 13.