Golden Queenie is claimed!

Sarah Brown of Edremony, Port Erin, has claimed the coveted Golden Queenie, pipping fellow explorers at the post on a Port Erin beach.

The organisers of the Isle of Man Queenie Festival buried the treasure in a secret location several weeks ago, encouraging the public to discover its whereabouts with a series of teasing clues contained in the festival programme.

With an estimated value of £4,000, the hiding place of the solid gold queenie shell has been the subject of intense interest – and much digging!

The treasure trail has taken Queenie hunters far and wide over the Island, from St Trinian’s Church to the Round Table.

But yesterday (Sunday 12th July), Port Erin woman Sarah Brown dug up the prize virtually on her own doorstep: the Golden Queenie was buried on ‘Mortuary Beach’, a small, pebbly cove adjoining the main Port Erin shore.

Sarah describes the lead-up to her discovery: ‘I realised weeks ago where it was and I’d been digging, trying to find the exact spot, ever since. Everything fitted, all the clues linked up in my mind. Also, I’m quite obsessive – I’m the sort of person who counts their steps wherever they go – so I knew straightaway, for instance, how many steps there were down to the beach.’

Sarah was not the only person to pinpoint Mortuary Beach as the Queenie hotspot; she estimates that there were around 30 people digging at the site, and 6 at the time of her discovery – leaving few stones unturned!

‘I must have spent about 40 hours digging – I’ve given myself a bad back! I’d dug these huge, deep trenches but the Queenie was buried in quite shallow ground. I just scraped some sand away from one of my trenches and there it was, right next to where I’d already been digging.

‘When I found it, I couldn’t stop screaming and pointing! I was so excited.’

How did the other treasure hunters react? ‘Other people on the beach were telling me to pick it up. Everyone came and huddled round and one woman said I deserved it, because I’d spent so many hours digging’.

On that day, Sarah was digging on her own but on other occasions, her young son was a willing helper. She says ‘He’s really excited too. I’m going to buy him a present for helping me’.

Sarah has yet to claim the actual Golden Queenie: buried in the sand was a tupperware box with a yellow painted Queenie shell and a code number, which Sarah had to quote to the festival organisers to verify her find. She will now receive her prize at a special presentation, to be announced soon.

Apart from winning the prize, Sarah says that one of the best things about the challenge has been the other treasure hunters: ‘I’ve never met so many new people as I have in the last few weeks; it’s been fantastic’.

Festival organiser Tim Croft, of Island Seafare, says, ‘The hunt for the Golden Queenie has captured the public imagination. People have been researching and discovering things they never knew about the Isle of Man. What’s also been great is that it’s got people out and about, seeing new places, meeting people they know and having a yarn!’

The discovery of the Golden Queenie, which was donated by Celtic Gold of Peel, brings the hugely successful Queenie Festival to a close for another year.

Saturday 4th July – Marine Day & Yn Daunse n Skeddan’

Marine Day 2009 builds on the success of last year’s event where thousands came out despite the rain for what was a fantastic Day in Port St Mary. This year’s event starts at 11am and has the extremely popular marine touch tanks, courtesy of Manx Wildlife Trust, for kids and adults to get up close with the fish and plant species that live in the surrounding sea. Around the touch tanks will be a whole host of events, stalls, live music and competitions.

This year also sees the return of the Port St Mary Trawler race! Prizes are on offer for a time trial and also the best dressed boat which I bet will be worth the trip to Port St Mary in themselves.

Again there will be cooking and seafood preparation demonstrations as well as plenty of food available for you to enjoy throughout the day. The Lifeboat, Barrule Fisheries Vessel, Coastguard, 7th Wave and Manx Wildlife Trust will all be there giving you a chance to interact and maybe get involved with.

It really will be a great family day out and if last year’s is anything to go by it doesn’t matter what the weather is doing.

Yn Daunse n Skeddan’ or The Herring Dance starts at 8pm in the Stone Field in Port St Mary and goes on till late. For those of you that don’t know the Stone Field, it is at the cross roads by Port St Mary School. This is just a good old fashioned knees up; licensed bar, live music and a great laugh. Those of you that remember the Stone Field doos from the past will be able to vouch for how good these nights are and I’m sure there’ll be many Stone Field veterans there on the night. Bunch of Skankas & The Tholtan Builders are providing the entertainment so not one to be missed!

Friday 3rd July – Love your Beach

Friday has an impressive list of events all focussed on or beside Port Erin Beach. Beach Volleyball, Scallop Shell Open Water Swims, Flipper Football, a live samba band, a limbo competition, The Fairly Famous Family and a Barbeque by TV Celebrity Chefs Mitch Tonks and Mark Hix.

There will also be a beach bar serving wine, beer and tropical Manx cocktails thanks to Martin at The Bay pub.

Port Erin will certainly be THE place to be on the Island and we’re sure there will be a great atmosphere. With so much going on adults and kids will have a great night at the beach.

Thanks to Sure for sponsoring Friday’s fantastic beach event.

More details on Friday’s event can be found here >>>

Sales & Tales, what a scorcher!

The bay of Port Erin hosted the Sales and Tales event on Wednesday night and once again we were bathed in glorious sunshine.

The evenings events kicked off at 5pm with over 150 local children gathering along Port Erin Beach and a few keen adults joining in whilst others relaxed outside the Cosy Nook enjoying the the usual hospitality combined with tasty treats including Manx Queenies and bacon.

A cannon boomed and across the bay on the flat calm water a boat was seen heading to the beach. The crowds gathered on the waterline as the boat neared and landed with local past figures such as James Kelly (the only survivor of the Brig Lily disaster and Juan Robin (skipper of the local smuggling boat Mauthe Dhoo) amongst others, all of whom were played by actors making their way up the beach where campfires were lit along various locations.

The groups were then split up and lead around to each small fire where they were told local yarns and manx tails about the maritime history of the Isle of Man.

In addition to the story telling the groups were also introduced to a number of boats thanks to the 7th Wave team.

It was great to see the children asking questions and interacting with the story tellers and I am sure the event was enjoyed by everyone young and old.

No doubt the Queenies, local food along with a few glasses/bottles of wine (for the adults) rounded of a succesful sun blessed evening of Sales and Tales in the stunning setting of Port Erin bay overlooked by Bradda Head and Milners Tower.

Thursday 2nd July – It’s all Beneath Us

Thursday will be a fantastic day for underwater enthusiasts. This includes diving, snorkelling and fishing. With both a junior fishing competition from Port St Mary breakwater and an adults competition aboard local charter boat ‘Gemini’, parents and kids can get involved in the fun. For those wanting to try diving or snorkelling instruction will be given on Chapel Beach and will be a great introduction to the sport.

For those not wanting to be quite so energetic we are also very lucky to have footage from underwater in Manx seas which will be projected onto a big screen in the Carrick Bay Factory at the top of the Alfred Pier in Port St Mary.

Special thanks to Paddy’s Market for their sponsorship of Thursdays events.

More details of Thursdays events can be found here >>>

Fun on the Water goes Swimmingly!

The weather was in our favour again tonight and ‘Fun on the Water’ at the The Shore Hotel and Gansey went swimmingly.

Actually, quite literally as the first legs of the Scallop Shell Swims got under way. With contestants travelling from across to take part this was a really great event to watch. Have to say I chickened out this year!! The main swim was 1mile long and was won in a time well under 30 minutes which is pretty impressive.

The Kayaking sessions provided by Adventurous Experiences went down extremely well too and I believe a couple of the groups heading out had a couple of playful Seals swimming along with them! There was also a kayak race and Dinghy sailing to entertain the crowds gathered along the seafront to watch and cheer on the competitors. It was fantastic to see Gansey so busy especially on such a good night.

Manx Queenies were back on the menu with barbeque and of course the special Queenie Festival beer brewed especially to compliment the sweet taste of the Manx Queenie by Okell’s.

To round the night off nicely Truman Falls set up outside the Shore for an evening of live music. Queenie Beer was flowing pretty nicely when we left so I’m sure there’s still many hardy souls making the most of the weather and the festival.