This weekend’s weather forecast has already led to the cancellation of the final Seafront Sunday of the year – but the 700 people taking on the Butterfield Half Marathon are unlikely to be enjoying a lie in with that event still going ahead.
Sunday is looking ‘wet and windy’ with rain showers throughout the day, and 55mph gusts predicted.
Because of safety concerns over setting up stalls for the Charities’ Seafront Sunday, the decision was made yesterday to postpone the event, with a new date unlikely to be set before next year.
It was the first time the Association of Guernsey Charities has managed a Seafront Sunday and it was intended to be a celebration of many different organisations that help others across the Bailiwick.
Director of the AGC, Steve Byrne said it was “with great disappointment that we announce the postponement of the first ever Charities Seafront Sunday, which was due to take place this weekend in St Peter Port”.
He said the “difficult decision to postpone the event” was made “in the interest of safety for all involved – including stallholders, volunteers, visitors, and other events scheduled on the day”.
“While we had hoped to bring together dozens of local charities for a vibrant day of community celebration, the unpredictable autumn weather means that a new date is likely to be set for 2026.
“We understand this will be disappointing for many, and we are exploring the possibility of holding another charity-focused event in the meantime. In the near future, we look forward to the AGC Conference, which will take place next month and offer another opportunity for charities to connect and collaborate.”
However, with the winds forecast to come from the south west on Sunday, the organisers of the Butterfield Half Marathon have suggested that runners could get a “good push up the west coast” for the first half of their 13.1mile run.
The course starts at the shingle bank near Lihou Island, taking a coastal route into St Peter Port via the north of the island.
Runners stay on the road for the bulk of the race before joining the shared pedestrian and cycle path along the east coast.
Guernsey Athletics Club said it is currently “all systems go” but it has enacted a contingency plan and will “keep everyone up to speed should anything change”.
The organisers have also advised runners to have warm clothes for the start and end of the race.
694 runners have registered so far, but the deadline for entries is 17:00 on Friday 13 September.
The finish line will be in front of the former States’ office – which would have been in the thick of the Seafront Sunday activity, but that has now been cancelled ahead of the weekend due to the weather forecast.
Mr Byrne said any stallholders who have paid a pitch fee for this weekend’s Charities’ can claim a refund, donate it to local charities, or use it as a payment ahead of the rescheduled event which is unlikely to happen before next year.
“We cannot believe the weather is not on our side for the first ever Charities’ Seafront Sunday which we had planned for this weekend,” he added.
“We are now trying to communicate the message to all that were supporting us on what was set to be an outstanding day celebrating our community and all the great work that goes on.
“It also means the Dolphin Discovery Trail dolphins will now not be in town but will head to the Peninsula ahead of the auction on Wednesday.
“We are looking at what options there are for future AGC events and already have the Charity Sector Conference on Saturday 18 October.
“We are incredibly grateful for your support and understanding, and we remain committed to celebrating and supporting Guernsey’s charitable sector in every way we can.”
The 62 statues that made up the Dolphin Discovery Trail will be on display at the Peninsula Hotel from Monday until Wednesday when they are sold off to raise funds for the GSPCA and Autism Guernsey.