The sun might now have set on another successful Queenie Festival (1st – 3rd July) but the case of the Golden Queenie Conundrum is most definitely still open!

The festival organisers promised that this year’s conundrum would be the ‘toughest ever’ and it looks as though they’ve been as good as their word, for the location of the Golden Queenie – which has an estimated retail value of £4,000 – is still a mystery to the many treasure hunters on its trail.

In only its third year, the cryptic challenge, reminiscent of the Cadbury’s Golden Egg treasure hunt in the early 1980s, has become a hugely popular tradition. Taking people far and wide to local landmarks and hidden corners, it tests people’s knowledge of the Island’s geography and history, myth and language.

The conundrum clues were first released in the second week of June via the festival programme and website, and, all over the Island, people set out to find the golden shell.
Six weeks and much head scratching later, organiser Tim Croft is urging people not to give up: “We asked our Cluemaster to make the conundrum particularly fiendish this year because we know the calibre of our treasure hunters – they’re a determined, resourceful lot!

“All I can say is, keep puzzling – the prize is out there, just waiting to be claimed! Don’t be put off if you’re new to the search, you’ve got just as much chance of cracking the code as someone who’s already familiar with the clues”.
The conundrum consists of 14 riddles. Entered into a grid, the answers will yield a 13 digit code; only by texting a mobile number revealed by the 14th answer will participants receive their final instruction, leading them to the location of the treasure.

The Cluemaster, who insists on remaining anonymous, refuses to shed light on any of the cryptic clues. Pressed at length, however, he gives the following tips: “The answers may be in Manx or English, and they may be numbers or letters. When the grid is complete, you should have a random alpha-numeric code.
“To search in earnest, you’ll need a map (the Ordnance Survey Outdoor Leisure Map, 1:25000)…and a ruler. This is all I can tell you”.

Treasure hunters have been sharing their progress and frustrations on the Queenie Festival website, with one commenting, “I think I’ll be very pleased whoever wins, as I’ll know they have put in more than enough work to deserve it”.

Can you solve the riddle of the Golden Queenie?

Fans of fiendish puzzles, sharpen your wits: the 2011 is Golden Queenie Conundrum is about to launch!

The cryptic clues – the key to discovering the whereabouts of the precious Golden Queenie – are contained in the programme for the 2011 Queenie Festival, which is available in newsagents around the Island from Wednesday 8th June.

This is the third year that the highly popular treasure hunt, sponsored by Celtic Gold, has been staged in the run-up to the Festival, which this year takes place 1st – 3rd July.

The conundrum is a test not only of wits but of speed, as scores of determined treasure hunters will all be working simultaneously to crack the clues and race for the prize: a solid gold Queenie shell worth an estimated £5,000.

Last year, the Golden Queenie was claimed by the Thomson family of Douglas in record time so this time around, the clues have been given a twist to make the challenge the toughest yet!

Tim Croft, festival organiser, says, “Somewhere in a secret location, the Golden Queenie awaits the lucky winner of the hunt – but who will it be?

“Over the last few years, we’ve found that the conundrum really captures the public imagination and we’re hoping that this year, more people than ever will take up the challenge.

“As well as being in the programme, the clues will also be published in the local press and on the festival website from the following Monday (13th June)”.

“But to give yourself a head start, be sure to grab a programme as soon as you can. As well as the vital clues, it’s got the lowdown on this year’s festival, so you can start planning your weekend of fun and great food by the sea. Good luck – and happy hunting!”

The event, which is part of the village’s annual Queenie Festival (1st – 3rd July), will see hardy swimmers taking to the waves to complete a triangular lap of the bay in the fastest possible time.

Now in its third year, the Manx Mile attracts participants from all sporting backgrounds – from tri-athletes to recreational swimmers – and is open to all ages and abilities.

Manx Ocean Crewing snapped up the opportunity to sponsor this year’s challenge, whose official title is now the ‘Manx Ocean Swim’.

Manx Ocean Crewing, whose main focus is providing crewing management services to vessels operating worldwide, is a regular contributor to the Port St Mary Lifeboat and to other local charities. With its head office overlooking Chapel Bay, it couldn’t be much closer to the action!

For those unafraid to take the plunge, open water swimming offers a unique – often addictive! – experience, as well as a fresh challenge for anyone tired of doing lengths in the swimming pool. Participants in the Manx Ocean Swim, who must pre-register for the event, can choose to wear wetsuits or, if they dare, swimsuits or shorts.

The course is clearly marked with buoys and kayakers provide safety support from start to finish. There’s a half-mile event for junior or novice swimmers, and trophies to be claimed in all categories.

Russ Kent, Finance Director of Manx Ocean Crewing, said, “We are proud to support the Manx Ocean Swim. As an Isle of Man based company, we believe it is very important to put something back into the local community, and the mile swim – like the Queenie Festival itself – is an event which brings together everyone in that community.

“In recent years, we’ve seen a revival of interest in open water swimming, as evidenced by the massive success of the Great Swim Series, and it’s great to have our own event here on the Isle of Man. With entries coming from the UK as well as from within the Island, it looks set to become an enduringly popular event. We wish everyone taking part the very best of luck”.

Organising the Manx Ocean Swim is Mark Gorry from the Isle of Man Open Water Swimming Club. Mark says, “The maritime connection made Manx Ocean Crewing an obvious sponsorship choice, and we’re delighted that they have come on board. Their support will make all the difference to the success of event, now and in the future.”

Anyone wishing to practice for the Manx Ocean Swim can join the Club on Sunday mornings – simply come down to the Port Erin slipway (between the Raglan Pier and the Lifeboat station) at 10.30am.

For more information about the Manx Ocean Swim, including details of how to register, contact Mark Gorry on (07624) 430631 or email markgorry@hotmail.com.

Taking place 1st – 3rd July, the festival annually draws large crowds of people down to Port St Mary for a programme of fun events, activities and attractions.

The marketplace, along with many other elements of the festival, is concentrated in the Alfred Pier and Lime Street areas of the village.

The Queenie Festival has always been a showcase for local growers, producers and food artisans, and this year will be no different.

Stallholders are welcomed for both the Food Producers’ Village, sponsored by Shoprite, and the Food Court, which gives local restaurateurs the opportunity to ‘demo’ a signature fish dish for the crowds.

As in previous years, artists and craftspeople are invited to take stalls, along with local clubs, charities and community organisations.

The Queenie Festival offers a great platform to a wide variety of stallholders – but places are limited, so anyone interested is advised to act fast and claim their spot.

For an application form and all further details, including call Tim Croft on 834494/ 495930. See you by the sea!

Isle of Man Queenie Festival rganisers have just announced this year’s Queenie Festival will run from July 1 to 3, meaning the hunt will soon be on for the Golden Queenie.

This is the fourth festival, but the third treasure hunt which in previous years has really caught the nation’s imagination. Last year, the Golden Queenie was found within hours, so this year, organisers have promised ‘a twist’ – and that means the clues will be far harder to ensure the hunt lasts for days, if not weeks!

‘Brace yourselves for a bit of a mind game,’ said event organiser Tim Croft. ‘There are certain little twists which need to be worked out within the conundrum.’

Apart from the glory of finding the Golden Queenie, there is an extra incentive – given the rise in the value of gold, the queenie is worth more than ever and Tim thanked Celtic Gold in Peel for sponsoring the golden queenie for another year. Last year, the Golden Queenie was worth about £4,000.

Clues will be in the festival programme, out at the end of May, and in the media. There will also be a special online forum for treasure hunters through the festival website,

‘You will be able to start hunting from June 1 – that means four busy weekends until the festival starts,’ said Tim.

SO WATCH THIS SPACE!

The hugely popular Queenie Festival is set to return this July, bringing three days of fun entertainments, marine activities, local heritage and, of course, fantastic food by the seaside. This year, the festival takes place over 1st – 3rd July, and organisers are hoping that people will help to make the fourth annual ‘celebration of the sea’ the best yet by getting involved.

A truly local, community event, the Queenie Festival showcases Manx produce, culture, wildlife and the Isle of Man’s beautiful seascape. As in previous years, the Friday evening ‘Sure Beach Party’ in Port Erin will kick off a packed weekend programme for all ages and interests, focused around Port St Mary harbour area and Chapel Bay.

As well as favourite features such as the Herring Dance and the Manx Mile Swim, there’ll be a host of things to see, do and sample, whether it’s a scuba try-out or a plate of delicious seafood cooked to order. The famous Golden Queenie Quest is also set to return, albeit with a twist!

The festival organisers are inviting expressions of interest from anyone who would like to support the Queenie Festival, whether by sponsorship of an individual element or by lending a hand with any aspect of the preparation and running of the festival.

Festival founder Tim Croft says, “The Queenie Festival has gone from strength to strength each year thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and all our volunteers. We’re now looking for people to help make sure that the 2011 event is our most successful yet.

“As well as the feel-good factor of supporting your local community and marine conservation, you’re guaranteed to have a great time getting into the festival spirit and enjoying the many attractions and events taking place.

“We’re also welcoming enquiries from stallholders – especially artists, craftspeople and local producers – and any bands, musicians or entertainers who are interested in performing live during the festival. It’s a great opportunity to play to a friendly crowd while supporting a 100% local initiative”.

To find out more about how you can get involved in Queenie Festival 2011, simply contact Tim Croft – call (01624) 834494 or email timcroft@islandseafare.co.uk
All Press Enquiries: queeniepress@gmail.com

The Manx Wildlife Trust will also be providing rockpooling sessions during the Sure Mobile Beach party on Friday 1st July. Rockpooling is another interesting way to examine and discover marine life. Creatures like sea stars, sea urchins, sea slugs and sea cucumbers are amongst the species that can be discovered during this magnified look at marine life. The sessions will be run by Eleanor Stone, Marine Officer of the Manx Wildlife Trust.

Manx Wildlife Trust website:

Port Erin resident, Carl, via his work as Chairman and Managing Director, organised Nationwide International sponsorship of the Isle of Man Queenie Festival in 2009 and 2010. Without that kind of support from key people in the local community, festivals like this one would struggle to exist. We would like to wish all his family the best in these troubling times.

This years festival will see a condensed programme of events over 3 days rather than the previous week long festival. But festival goers will not be dissapointed as this years event will include everyone’s favourites from previous years, with some new elements as well. The 2010 format will mean a fully action packed weekend from Friday 9 July with the Sure ‘Love your beach party’ in Port Erin with the Queenie Festival then setting up camp over the Saturday and Sunday 10-11 July on the quay in Port St Mary at Paddy’s Market with its ‘Marine Weekend’. There will be live music, plenty of Queenie dishes, sea sports, marine touch tanks plus much, much more, so block out the dates in your diaries and head south for a great action packed weekend.

More details will be released in the local media, on the website and you can also get updates by joining our Facebook group and following us on twitter! Neat heh!

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.