Olympic Games fever has infected Haugh of Urr this week.
The whole community has thrown its support behind local sports star Jo Muir who will compete in the modern pentathlon in Tokyo today and tomorrow.
Banners and flags have been put up in support of the former Hardgate Primary and Castle Douglas High School pupil.
Jo’s mum Susan, who lives just outside the village at Milton Park Farm with husband Andy, said: “We have had so much support locally, it is just amazing the amount of banners and flags that are up and it’s overwhelming.
“It’s very exciting and it’s going to be a long week. Jo seems to be in really good form going by the messages from Tokyo.
“It is all quite surreal seeing the photos of her over there sitting in front of the Olympic rings and in the Team GB village. She was talking to Laura Muir in the lift and has also spoken to Tom Daley as the swimming training pool was beside the diving pool.”
The first stage of the modern pentathlon was the fencing ranking round at five o’clock this morning, with Jo finishing 33rd.
The swimming begins at 6.25am tomorrow and will be followed by swimming and fencing.
The final event, combining running and shooting, is due to get under way at 11.20am.
Susan added: “If she fences well then she has as good a chance as anybody.
“She is actually fourth favourite in the betting.
“The other British girl Kate French is the favourite which takes some of that pressure off as well. She definitely has a good chance but there are another 10 or 12 girls in with a good chance.”
The support has included a special good luck video featuring hundreds of people from the community. It can be found it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq6iaKqqAS8
The video was put together by pal Katie Davidson who said: “Everyone is quite excited to see her doing so well.
“I saw Pentathlon GB were looking for photos and videos to send messages to her because they’re not able to have family and supporters out there.
“There was a community email group for Haugh of Urr and Hardgate set up during lockdown so I used that and there was a great turnout.
“I’m hoping to get time off work to watch her and have downloaded the Eurosport app.”
There will also be plenty of viewers in the Laurie Arms in Haugh of Urr.
They are organising a special Olympic breakfast and viewing party from 10.30am, with spaces available to be booked by calling 01556 660246.
