BMX stunt riders help the West fly high again

It is the second of the year’s shows after the South Show in St Martin’s last weekend and the North Show at Saumarez Park beginning next Wednesday.

Tents featuring crafts and livestock were judged yesterday morning before being opened to the public.

Family activities on offer in the sunshine included BMX stunts, the Rockwood dog display team and Dexter the Dinosaur interactive learning show as well as fairground rides and food tents.

There was also the usual crown and anchor stalls and charity awareness tents.

Selling a range of Guernsey produce, Sarah Plumley from St Peter’s Market said: ‘West is Best because of the family feeling.

‘We come every year and we hold a market each Wednesday. We come here once a year, it is more for families I find,’ she said.

Crown and anchor is restricted to the Channel Islands because of licence issues. It has been popular at the shows in Guernsey since around the 1960s.

‘We do a few a year, all the shows and Liberation Day, it’s been in my family for generations.

‘You get some people winning quite big and emotions running high,’ said Beverley Setters on one of the stalls at the show.

Scott Hamlin, BMX stunt man from Mobile Bike Events, said it was their first time in the island and it had been really hospitable.

‘We went up to the skate park yesterday and met the kids, it’s a really great park and really positive kids.

‘We’ve travelled from all over, the last spot was the Isle of Wight, which was similar but the Queen isn’t smiling on their money like yours.

‘The show is going to be dangerous, but we’ve never had to stop one yet due to injury. We also usually go to schools and teach them about how important it is to wear a helmet and to get them excited about riding bikes,’ he said.

Other regular events included the lawnmower racing heats, beanjar competition and live music into the evening.