As well as switching on the Christmas lights this year, Stone’s London 2012 Olympian Lizzie Neave is set to open the eighth annual Stone Food & Drink Festival in October.
Lizzie – who’s a keen baker and foodie – will open the festival on Friday 5th October at 1pm. After performing her VIP duties, Lizzie will later take the stage in the festival’s new Mercedes Benz of Stafford Talks & Tastings Tent for a Q&A session where she will answer festival-goers’ questions about sports nutrition and her preparation for the Olympics.
Lizzie got through to the semi-finals in her class – Canoe Slalom:Women’s K1- in fine style but missed out in a place in the final. Since her Olympic adventure, there’s been no time to rest and reflect for Lizzie, as she went on to contest the final two World Cups of the season in Prague and Bratislava, where she finished 8th and 24th respectively.
Opening the festival will be something of a homecoming for self-confessed ‘foodie’ Lizzie, as the main event takes place on Stone’s Westbridge Park, base of Stafford & Stone Canoe Club, at which her father Andy, who still lives in Stone, is head coach.
Lizzie said: “It’s been an amazing year, and now I’m looking forward to taking a bit of a break before next season. Opening the Stone Food & Drink Festival seems the perfect way to kick-start my time out – I’m actually a big foodie, and love cooking and baking, so it’s great to be involved in an event that takes place in my home town. I can’t wait to coming home and take some time to enjoy the festival and all that’s going on around it.”
Chairman Richard Stevens said: “2012 has given us an amazing summer of sport – first with the Olympics and now with the Paralympics. I can’t imagine that anyone has failed to be humbled and inspired by the dedication, skill and sheer natural talent shown by the athletes who’ve done us so proud. It’s fantastic to have Lizzie on board, and I am sure that there will be many people who are keen to ask her questions regarding not only her experience of the Olympics but what it takes to prepare and train as a professional canoeist. The role of nutrition cannot be underestimated in an athlete’s preparation, so I think the Q&A session will be fascinating – especially if Lizzie has tips on how to make meals that are not only delicious but healthy!”
Lizzie will officially open the Stone Food and Drink Festival’s Westbridge Park site at 1pm on Friday 5th October (gates open at noon), and will take questions from 3.30pm in the Talks & Tasting Tent. This will provide a fitting start to a weekend packed with interesting and informative talks and demonstrations, alongside the opportunity to shop for fine artisan foods and produce. For further information and to buy advance tickets visit www.stonefooddrink.org.uk
- Food and Drink Festival
- lizzie neave
- Richard Stevens
- Stafford and Stone Canoe Club
- staffordshire
- Westbridge Park
