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• OUT TO WIN: Jack Bass and Ashley Lake, both 10,
exercise their talents in a bid to win a surfboard in the
Atlantic Watersport/ Gazette competition.
Ref: kids (wk25)
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• Skaters put their skills to test on the half-pipe
in the trade village
Ref: skate2 (wk25) |
Oceanfest round-up in pictures
PICTURES BY ANDY KEEBLE AND TONY GUSSIN
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.”
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| • SOUNDS GOOD: The crowds
relax and listen to one of the OceanFest bands. ref: Crowd92
(wk25) |
• LYNSEY Ridd from Ashleigh
Primary School in Barnstaple jumps through hoops at Oceanfest.
Ref: Ashleigh Lynsey Ridd (wk25) |
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• MORE SPORTS action on the
beach.
Ref: Soccer96 (wk25) |
• ILFRACOMBE Junior School
pupils take part in a Schools Day workshop run by Drum Crazy.
ref: drums-ilf-juniors7 (wk25) |
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| • Surfers line up at Saunton
for the start of the Big Boy Paddle Race to Croyde on Sunday
morning. Ref: Paddle4 (wk25) |
• PUPILS from Our Lady’s
RC and Ashleigh primary schools form a pyramid. Ref: our-ladys-5-up
(wk25) |
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