The highlight of this year’s DadFest in South Devon was the hotly contested ‘World Dad Dancing Championships’.

The atmosphere was highly charged and the music as retro as it gets, as Dads filled the dance floor to bust their most excruciatingly embarrassing moves. With a panel of judges comprised entirely of children, more critical than ‘Strictly’s’ Craig Revel Horwood, the scene was set for an extraordinary dance off.

Many of the moves defied description from the funky caterpillar to 70’s grooving.

This year’s ‘World Dad Dancing Champion’ was Conrad Gillespie, from Totnes, who came back from the brink and battled fierce competition, to reclaim his much coveted crown, having previously won the accolade in 2015.

“Like a phoenix from the flames I’ve regained my title. I’m over the moon to once again hold this global dad dancing honour” said Conrad, “I’ve been in training for months to ensure my repertoire of weird and wonderful dad dance moves would wow the judges.”

By demonstrating artistic forms of chaotic limb movements, including the ‘Jackhammer’, ‘Hot Lizard’ and the ‘Torch of Triumph’, Conrad was able seal a close-fought victory with a classic ‘Caterpillar’ manoeuvre over the cobbled dancefloor.

Asked what makes a champion dad dancer, he said: “You need to open your mind, throw away your pride and release the ridiculous rhythmic magic locked inside every Dad!”

Conrad is pictured with his two daughters, Lara, 7, and Jody, 4, whose pained expressions say it all when it comes to being completed embarrassed, yet proud too, of their World Champion dancing dad.

DadFest is the UK’s only festival just for dads, male carers and their children. The festival is organised by Totnes-based ‘Dangerous Dads’ and supported by the Big Lottery Fund.

DadFest organiser and founder of ‘Dangerous Dads’, Ian Blackwell says, “We’ve had a fantastic festival this year and everyone gets very excited about the now famous World Dad Dancing Championships.

“It was a great night, with children watching their fathers create dance moves that have never been seen before…for very good reasons. Congratulations to Conrad who is a highly entertaining and deserving champion.”

Even a celebrity dad was amongst this year’s contenders, as BBC’s The One Show presenter Matt Allwright strutted his funky moves, as the show filmed this year’s Dadfest for future broadcast.

The festival, which takes place at the Forest & Beach centre in Beeson, is all about Dads and their children having fun together.

In addition to the dancing DadFest involves adventurous activities including camping, tree-climbing, storytelling in the woods at night, bushcraft, campfire cooking, woodland games, archery, star-gazing; water rockets, kids’ entertainer and award-winning local food and beer.

The event even had its very own beer, ‘Daddies Real Sauce’ brewed by South Hams Brewery.

Plans are already in progress for DadFest 2018.