Pride of Guernsey

IT’S been a Bank Holiday weekend that Guernsey can be truly proud of. From music to sport, there has been enough entertainment, excitement and pure magic packed into the last three days to keep us all going for more than a month.

The extent of activities and events on offer would be enough to keep large cities happy, let alone an island like ours. There was sporting victory, tragedy, a music festival-filled arena: and that’s before we even get to the horse racing.

In and around our Town centre there was a noticeable buzz as festival-goers rubbed shoulders with sports fans, and cruise tourists enjoyed the draw of a food festival and welcoming restaurants, shops and bars.

You hardly noticed it was raining on and off.

Guernsey Live is now proof of the island’s status as a serious venue for a major music event. Feedback has been heartening not only from the organisers, bands and fans but also the police who praised the security team.

Though ticket sales were not as high as hoped, the success of the two-dayer and the behaviour of what have been described as the ‘best crowds ever’ means the show could be coming back next year.

Yet despite such glowing reports, this weekend’s island’s sporting achievements threatened to upstage the biggest music festival the island has ever seen.

Guernsey’s rugby ‘green machine’ made history by lifting the Siam Cup on Saturday in front of 3,000 people at Foote’s Lane. The green-and-whites beat Jersey – who are set to play two divisions above the Sarnians next season – by 22 to 13.

Yesterday, hundreds of horse racing fans were also treated to a top day’s action on their doorsteps at L’Ancresse. As our pages 6 and 7 show today, racegoers turned up in droves to ensure the event is now a firm favourite on the sporting calendar: as well as putting Guernsey on the racing map thanks to interest from the UK’s Racing Channel.

Yesterday also marked a sad blow for Guernsey’s island footballers who missed out by seconds on taking the 2008 Muratti title from Jersey at Springfield.

It was hoped they could emulate the success of our women’s team on Sunday. But Jersey snatched a cruel equaliser in the 91st minute, before the lads lost after extra time on penalties.

But that’s fine – because just like the rest of those who flew the flag for Guernsey this weekend, they did us proud.