MBC News file photo
The Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show is back, and Young Canada Day kicked things off with a bang Tuesday morning.
The grandstand was packed with students representing the Simcoe Sabres, Delhi Raiders, Holy Trinity Titans, Waterford Wolves and Valley Heights Bears. With a Western theme this year, school colours mixed with cowboy hats and plenty of denim.
And the students brought the noise.
It may have been one of the loudest Young Canada Day crowds in recent years.
The morning began on an inspiring note as Hannah Dolson sang O Canada, with students throughout the grandstand singing it right back to her.
Then… game on.
Boston Public won the Elementary Road Race, while Simcoe Composite School captured the Secondary Road Race and Homecraft championships.
Delhi District Secondary School claimed Special FX, while Holy Trinity won the Female Tug o’ War and Delhi took the Male Tug o’ War.
The Overall Tug o’ War championship needed a tiebreaker after Delhi, Holy Trinity and Simcoe finished in a three-way tie. Fastest combined pulls settled it, with the Raiders muscling their way to the championship.
Holy Trinity also captured the Cheerleading title.
But the biggest drama was still to come.
Students leaned in as Holy Trinity was announced as the Young Canada Day Grand Champion.
The Titans erupted.
But, not so fast, that dream quickly became a nightmare. Officials announced that the school names had been reversed.
Holy Trinity was actually second, and Delhi District Secondary School was the Grand Champion.
This time, it was the Raiders’ turn to explode in celebration, while stunned Holy Trinity students processed the heartbreaking reversal, with some in tears.
Simcoe Composite School finished third, Holy Trinity Catholic High School took second and Delhi District Secondary School walked away as the 2026 Young Canada Day Grand Champion.
It was a roller-coaster ending to an already electric morning, and one likely to be talked about around Norfolk County for years to come.
A livestream of Young Canada Day is available on our Facebook pages.
Written by Jeremy Hall
