Oceanfest Round-up

June 23, 2006, 10:34 am

Thousands of sun, sea and surf worshipers flocked to Croyde at the weekend as fine hot weather blessed the eighth annual GoldCoast Oceanfest.

An estimated 25,000 people visited the event, with 10,000 filing through the area gate on both the Saturday and the Sunday, and thousands more enjoying the various sporting events on the beach over the three days.

Potential spanners the new licensing legislation threatened to throw in the festival works were all overcome and any other logistical headaches caused for organisers soon cleared as the event roared into action on the Friday with the Gazette-sponsored schools’ Education Day.

“We are over the moon,” Oceanfest director Warren Latham told the Gazette.

“Saturday was our ‘judgement day’ and it was absolutely superb. The beach was jammed and there was no standing room at the front of the stage. We could not have asked for anything more and everyone who visited had a fantastic time.”

Mr Latham explained that this year’s event saw major improvements in the way the event was designed and delivered under the new licensing legislation.

“We listened long and hard to everybody after last year and we are confident all the actions we took worked very successfully,” he added.

“There were no issues related to public disorder whatsoever and we have had assurances from the authorities to say they were extremely pleased with how well it was run.

“Many thanks to the residents of Croyde in particular for their continued support, ensuring this community event - the largest in the North Devon Festival - was so successful.”

More than 500 athletes took part in events including a paddle race from Saunton to Croyde, an aquathon, beach soccer, foot volley and volleyball, during the weekend.

There was a fantastic spectator turn-out for athletes,” added Mr Latham.

“I spoke to the foot volley organiser and he said that all the Europeans who came here were blown away by it all. They were thrilled to have experienced the whole thing.”

Win a surfboard

DON’T FORGET: There is still time to enter the Atlantic Watersport/ North Devon Gazette Win a Surfboard competition for anyone who picked up an entry form from the Gazette trade stand during the weekend. Get designing your board - the closing date for entries is Monday, July 3.

RESULTS

Beach Soccer:

1 Isle of Wight Allstars

2 Galacticos (Devon)

Foot Volley:

1 France

2 Spain

3 Germany

Volleyball:

Queen of the Beach, Denise Austin

King of the Beach, Morph Bowes

Big Boy Paddle Race

1 Nick Thorn (22min: 58sec)

2 Andrew Cotton (24min:25sec)

3 James Yeo 25min:57sec)

1st Lady: Maria Sullivan (27min:00sec) (8th overall)

1st Junior: Ryan Faulkner - (29min:15sec) (12th overall)

Youngest: Zac Lawton - (37min:02sec) (14 overall)

Aquathon:

(5k run + 1,000m swim):

Men, James Dallyn (34.13)

Women, Joanna Swallow (39.37)

Male Veteran - Neil Edwards (39.33)

Female Veteran - Paula Robinson (52.15).

(this article was taken from NorthDevonGazette)