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.

Queenie Festival Programmes now on sale!

Official programmes are now on sale at retailers and newsagents around the Island. The programme not only has everything you need to know about the activities and events but also includes exclusive discounts with a number of local businesses, a chance to win Kaiser Chiefs’ tickets and of course the all important Queenie Conundrum.

Can you solve the Golden Queenie Conundrum?

THE HUNT IS ON FOR SOLID GOLD, BURIED TREASURE WORTH £4,000

The hunt is on for a solid gold Queenie shell worth £4,000 buried somewhere on the Isle of Man. As part of this year’s Isle of Man Queenie Festival a Golden Queenie, moulded by Celtic Gold, has been hidden on the Island for intrepid treasure hunters to find.

What better way to spend a summer’s day than heading out on a real life treasure hunt? The adventure starts with solving the Queenie Conundrum contained within this year’s Queenie Festival Programme, available in retailers around the Island. Additional clues may be made available at a later date but everything you need to identify the location is included in the Queenie Conundrum.

Tim Croft, organizer of the Isle of Man Queenie Festival added, “We are really excited to have such an amazing prize on offer for the Queenie Conundrum treasure hunt. Not only will solving the puzzle and heading out to look for it be great fun, but the reward at the end is truly spectacular for one lucky person or family.”

The Isle of Man Queenie Festival is a week of events celebrating the sea and the Manx Queenie. Events include beach parties, live music, barbeques, sailing, kayaking, diving, fishing, Marine Day and more. Everyone is invited so pick up your event programme and take part.

The Golden Queenie will not be buried on any National Trust or private property.

Manx Queenie Spring Rolls Isle of Man TT 2009 appearance

Blink and you’ve missed them!

For those of you who are keen TT fans you will have seen our very own Manx Queenie Spring Rolls make an appearance last week on the ITV4 coverage of the Isle of Man TT 2009. Craig Doyle of ITV4 was seen interviewing riders Keith Amor and Connor Cummings as they both tucked into a couple of Manx Queenie Spring Rolls after the second Supersport race with both commenting on what a great snack and how fresh tasting they were.

The Manx Queenies made an appearance at the TT grandstand on Wednesday the 10th of June as part of the launch of the Isle of Man Queenie Festival. Kath Sentance of Relish took the Queenie Roadshow out and about around the island for locals and TT fans to sample the Queenie delights and there was also a chance for any visitors to win a weekend break to the festival that begins on the 29th June this year.

The Queenie Roadshow visited the Peel Honda Day, Ramsey Sprint as well as the TT grandstand as people competed to be the fastest Queenie Spring Roll Roller on the Island (Thanks to Dave Myers and Si King for the recipe last year!)

All in all it was a great success and we even got a spot on ITV4 beamed out around the world! Fantastic!

You will be able to sample lots of Queenie delights including the Manx Queenie Spring Rolls at many of the events being held for this year festival. Pick up a programme from participating newsagents to get the full lowdown!

Celebrity Chefs to attend Isle of Man Queenie Food Festival

Celebrity chefs Mitch Tonks and Mark Hix will be cooking up a storm at this year’s Isle of Man Queenie Festival. The TV personalities will be entertaining the crowds, providing demonstrations and cooking barbeques throughout the week-long festival of events.

Between writing books and appearing in his latest TV show, ‘Mitch and Matt’s Big Fish’, Mitch Tonks is an award winning restaurateur and fishmonger. His knowledge and expertise of seafood is second to non and his attendance at the second annual Queenie Festival will be a real treat for festival-goers.

As well as cooking barbeques and entertaining crowds, leading chef, author and TV personality Mark Hix, will use his experience as a finalist of the BBC’s Great British Menu to judge this year’s Manx Queenie recipe competition alongside Mitch. It will certainly take something special to amaze Mark, who has worked as Head Chef and Executive Head Chef for a number of Michelin graded restaurants including Le Caprice and The Ivy in London.

Mitch and Mark will be making up part of the judging panel for the public and hospitality Queenie recipe competitions that are currently open for everyone to try their hand at becoming an award-winning Chef. They will be entertaining the crowds at Marine Day and cooking up a treat on the barbeque at the ‘Love your beach’ day on Friday 3rd July at Port Erin Beach. Tickets will be available from Paddy’s Market in Port St Mary and at The Bay in Port Erin.

Isle of Man Queenie Festival organiser Tim Croft commented, “We are absolutely delighted to have two guests as well renowned as Mitch and Mark attend this year’s festival. Aside from their celebrity TV statuses, both have earned tremendous accolades for their contributions to the British Food world. It really is a fantastic opportunity for the Manx public to see and taste what Britain’s finest have to offer.”

The Isle of Man Queenie Festival, held from the 29th June to 5th July 2009, has daily events throughout the festival to appeal to adults and children. With competitions, big prizes, barbecues, bay swims and the chance to see and taste fantastic creations from two of the Britain’s top chefs, there is sure to be something for everyone.

Basking Shark Conference for Isle of Man

A Conference: Basking Sharks: A Global Perspective: The Manx Government, Manx Basking Shark Watch and the Save our Seas Foundation are hosting a conference, “BASKING SHARKS: A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE” on the Isle of Man August 3rd-6th 2009. Experts in basking shark tagging, genetics and conservation will come from around the world to discuss ways to study, conserve and manage this wonderful animal. It will be followed by the UK Wildlife Trusts’ Basking Shark Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) meeting at the same venue.

For more information visit

Isle of Man Queenie Roadshow hits town

As part of the build up to the Isle of man Queenie Festival, the Queenie Roadshow will be out and about around the island with heaps of delicious Queenie delights for you to sample and taste. And if you don’t live on the Isle of Man, there is the chance to win a weekend break to the festival that begins on the 29th June this year.

The Queenie Roadshow will be out and about on at the following locations:

Sunday 7th June @ Peel 12-2

Tuesday 9th June @ Sprint 12-2

Wednesday 10th June @ Grandstand 4-6pm

It’s all out war as people compete to be the fastest Queenie Spring Roll Roller on the Island (Thanks to Dave Myers and Si King for the recipe last year!)

Its only £1 to enter and half of the money raised will go to the Helicopter Fund and the other half to the fastest person on each day. Plus you get to eat your results, so you can’t lose!

Entries open for Flipper Football

As part of the tonnes of entertainment taking place in this years 2009 Queenie Festival there is also the crazy beach sport of Flipper Football!

The Flipper Football tournament is taking place on Friday 3 July as part of the ‘Love you beach’ event taking place on Port Erin Beach from 6pm.

For those of you not familiar with Flipper Football here is a short run down:

1. The main element is fun – well would you take it seriously!
2. Mixed teams and ages can take part
3. There are 5 players on field per side at any one time, with one sub available
4. There is no goalie
5. The only time you can touch with ball with your hands is for a throw in
6. It’s a real laugh
7. Flippers are provided
8. Its difficult to swerve the ball
9. You don’t have to be good at football
10. Its different

So if you fancy getting a team together for a bit of fun, why not download an entry form here Flipper Football Entry Form and return your entry to:

Flipper Football
Isle of Man Queenie Festival
Island Seafare
The Quay
Port St Mary
IM9 5EA

Manx Queenie Recipe Competitions Launched

Two recipe competitions have been launched as part of the 2009 Isle of Man Queenie Festival. The public, and Chef’s from the Island’s hospitality sector, are invited to enter imaginative Manx Queenie dishes to be judged as part of this year’s week-long festival.

This year’s recipe competitions take on a new format, pitting the finalists against each other in a Masterchef style cook off.  The two head-to-head battles will be open to the public and will be judged by a select panel. The winner will be announced following the cook offs on Friday 3rd July 2009.

Entries to the public recipe competition will be narrowed down to two finalists who will compete head-to-head for the trophy and prize of £100 worth of seafood.

The prestigious hospitality recipe competition provides a platform for the Island’s finest Chef’s to showcase their talent. The winning entry will receive the esteemed Isle of Man Queenie Festival Hospitality Recipe Trophy as well as £200 worth of seafood.

The Manx Queenie recipe competition sponsor, Paddy’s Market, has kindly provided the seafood prizes for both competitions.

All recipe entries should be supplied on the Competition Entry Forms by 3pm on Saturday 20th June 2009. Entry forms can be downloaded from the Queenie Festival website, www.queeniefestival.com or by emailing competitions@queeniefestival.com. More information and updates for the 2009 Isle of Man Queenie Festival can be found on their website or on the Queenie Festival Facebook page.

Scallop Shell Swims Win Interest from Olympic Swimming Champion

The series of sea swims taking place as part of the 2009 Queenie Festival are starting to attract considerable interest – most notably from Olympic open water champion David Davies.

David Davies won the silver medal in the men’s 10km open water marathon in Beijing. During his visit of the Isle of Man last weekend (18th – 19th April) he met with young members of the Isle of Man Swimming Squad.

We were made up to hear that whilst he attended a coaching session at the Western Swimming Pool in Peel, Davies expressed an interest in coming back to the Island in 2010, specifically to attend the Festival! The small matter of the World Championships in Rome this summer will prevent him making a more immediate return to the Island! Read more

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