Event organisers hoping Hurricane Bertha misses us this weekend

Friday 08 August 2014

Two of the Island's big crowd pleasers are being staged this weekend and organisers say they're confident they'll be going ahead despite the chance of bad weather.

Thousands of Islanders and visitors will be enjoying a day out at the seaside and the races on Sunday provided the Island escapes strong remnants of hurricane Bertha.

Jersey Seaside Festival organiser Mario Pirozzolo said he has written to all concessionaires letting them know that he is monitoring this weekend's weather and says he will only cancel if there are storm force winds, making a decision on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Pirozzolo has never had to cancel the event in its ten year history and is expecting the seafront and bathing pool to be as jam packed as it always is. He did a rough count of numbers at last year's festival and clocked up around 13,500 people during the course of the day.

And this year with the tide just right and the pool exposed until around 7 pm, he's confident it'll go ahead as planned and draw in the crowds.

The family event promises beach games and live entertainment and there will be a food fair offering thai, polish and portuguese food as well as traditional fish and chips. There will also be arts and crafts stalls lined up along Roseville Street which Mr Pirozzolo describes as the portal of the event.

He said: "A lot of locals come down, most of the residents have parties, you’ve got the sea, the sand, you’ve got the Havre des Pas site, it’s wonderfully contained, easy to manage, easy to police, it’s a happy day."

There’s a big day planned at Jersey Race Club too and female spectators will be hoping their hats stay firmly on their heads throughout Ladies Day – especially those looking for the prize for the most outstanding bit of millinery.

Jersey Race Club’s Secretary Charlotte Dickson said: “It’s one of the biggest events of the year and that’s why it would be such a tragedy if we had to cancel.

“If the weather is bad on Saturday, the stewards will inspect on Sunday morning and take a view on the safety of racing and then a decision will be made.

“There’s never been a need to cancel any race meets in my five seasons here, but we had one cancellation prior to that because the member’s marquee took off!”

If the going’s good 48 horses will race in Sunday’s meet, several from yards in the UK. Racing starts at 2.30 pm with the hurdle race, followed by four flat races.

And their owners won’t be the only ones with their eyes on first prize.

Miss Dickson said: “We’ve got our best dressed ladies competition, most outstanding hat – which some people make for months at home and there’s best dressed youngster.”

“It’s just a really big day and it just needs to be sunny!”