Ratiboř

Our biggest event held regularly every year is over. This year's edition was accompanied by a huge interest of competitors, when we were forced to increase the limit and accept two more. Thus, 23 cooking teams entered the competition not only from Ratiboř, but also from Vsetín, Valašské Meziříčí, Lutonina, Lužná, Jablůnky, Hošťálková, Horní Lidec and Povážská Teplá. Everything started at the stroke of seven o'clock when the cauldrons were ceremoniously lit. The competitors threw themselves into the preparation of tasty goulash. The morning was accompanied by a good atmosphere and a tipping of the individual competition teams among themselves. The participants were entertained by the brass band Ořechovjané from Velký Ořechov. At twelve o'clock, all teams handed in samples of goulash for the evaluation committee, which was already waiting impatiently in the closed premises of the garage of the fire station. The committee never knows the numbers of the competitors and the samples are ranked from 1 to 23. The number, which the competitors drew in closed envelopes, will be proven only at the announcement, until that moment only the competitors themselves know them. The judging panel examines the colour, taste, consistency and presentation of the meat. Each member of the jury has ten points to allocate to each goulash. However, they may award no more than three points to any one goulash. The members of the committee were the mayor, the deputy mayor, the governor of the Zlín Region, the parish priest, the fire brigade commander and Jaroslav Svobodník, an AČR ensign. Mr. Robert Vítek, an American who visited his grandfather's native village, was a special guest. Three randomly drawn contestants also took part in the evaluation.

The winning list

1. Chef: Zdeněk Hořelka / Assistant Chef: Libor Mořkovský (Myslivecké sdružení Ratiboř)
2. Chef: Michal Lukáš / Assistant Chef: David Valchář (SDH Lhota u Vsetína)
3. Chef: Jiří Čala / Assistant Chef: Kamil Skýpala (Lutonina)
4. Chef: Jiřina Filgasová / Assistant chef: Marie Skýpalová (Lužná)
5. Chef: Marie Smutná / Assistant Chef: Věra Urbanová (Ratiboř / Vsetín)
6. Chef: Tomáš Žabčík / Assistant Chef: Roman Holíček (Ratiboř / Hošťálková)
7. Chef: Vladislav Chvátal / Assistant Chef: Karel Jurčík (Vsetín)

The festival always includes a hiking march, which this year was directed to Prženské paseky, and the long route took hikers up to the Maruška lookout tower. A total of 460 tourists took part in the march.

The military camp at Ponorka was a great highlight and the first stage of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic. The whole military event was organized under the auspices of the Ludvík Hynek Military Museum in Borč. Members of the Czechoslovak Legionary Community and the Spittfire Club of the Czech Republic prepared for visitors demonstrations of uniforms, weapons, equipment and especially the Spittfire aircraft used by Czech airmen in Great Britain during World War II.

The Goulash Festival continued with the performance of the Gympleři group, the Kosiska ensemble prepared their spring band, there were also the Barmen from Zlín, the Minikosovci and the fire show of the Black Salamanders group also attracted the evening entertainment with the Kosovci.

The success of the event is always based on the weather, which did not disappoint this year. The festival was visited by a lot of locals and people from abroad. Everyone had the opportunity to taste the goulash they had chosen themselves, have fun watching the programme and dancing until the early hours of the morning.

Of course I must thank all the municipal staff, councillors, firemen and footballers for their help in organising the whole event. To you we owe its smooth running and good atmosphere.

Martin Žabčík
Deputy Mayor