Last weekend it was finally time again for the annual hunting festival. All the residents of Santa Purica had been looking forward to this event the whole year. That was clearly visible in the large mass of inhabitants going to the forests of Paragon. But there was only one courageous man who could win this year and that was well-known farmer Bob Michael (52). 

 

The festival

Since 1257 it has been a tradition in our country that the bravest men compete against each other and try to catch the biggest prey. The hunters who participate come to the capital with their horses and dogs. The candidate who can shoot the biggest animal first, wins. The event was hosted and judged by the churches of Santa Purica like always. 

 

Past Saturday the starting guns went off at 8 AM and the competition already ended at 2 PM. Probably because of the little twist they gave the game this year: you could only shoot once. This added a lot of excitement and also required a well thought out tactic. The audience said it was a very eventful contest and a close call for the winner, Bob Michael, who managed to beat Peter Smith by shooting an ox. Mister Smith also managed to shoot an ox, but it was a few pounds lighter than Michael’s. The catches of other candidates were less impressive but were shot faster than other years. 

 

In 1888 Jerry Williams had managed to shoot a cheetah. It was the biggest prey ever caught and since the 19th century no one has managed to do it again. You can admire the statue of Jerry Williams at the town hall.

 

Our winner

The inhabitants of Paragon were keeping their fingers crossed for the farmer because he had been trying to win for years. Now he will be praised throughout the country and honoured by our adored king. He will be expected to be at the royal castle this Wednesday to finally meet the royal family. Michael told The Paragon Times that it feels like a dream come true. Like many in Santa Purica, this year's winner has a lot of respect for the royal family and since he was a little boy that he would really love to see them in real life. And that's not all because since Michael has won this competition, he will be in the jury together with the churches of Santa Purica next year.

 

Good luck in game, bad luck in love? 

That’s not the case for the farmer. After the contest it was time again for the annual feast. Lots of young single ladies prepared to offer themselves as a wife for the brave competitors, by wearing the traditional flower crowns. The lucky winner was seen with multiple women all night, enjoying his victory. Rumour has it that Bob Michael might have found a third wife there. To be continued...