West Show’s star turn was nearly turned away
THE West Show came within minutes of losing its entertainment headliner on Monday as three-time Trial de Nations world champion Steve Colley was almost forced to leave Guernsey when his vaccination certificate was initially rejected by border control.
Mr Colley said he took a Covid test in the Isle of Man two days before travelling and said he received email from the Manx authorities shortly after that cleared him to come to the island.
But on arrival, his vaccination certificate was declared insufficient.
‘I had my card to say that I’d had the two Pfizer vaccines,’ he told Manx Radio News.
‘Within two minutes of coming here they said I had two choices – I could either quarantine for 21 days or go back on the next freight boat, which was leaving in 40 minutes.’
Mr Colley, who has appeared at motor shows in the islands regularly over the years, was then placed in quarantine at St Peter Port Harbour for a short period.
‘I was shut in there until the situation was sorted.’
The motorcyclist is due to perform at the show today and tomorrow in a stunt act that show organisers have described as ‘one not to be missed’.
The Guernsey Press understood that West Show organisers were involved in trying to secure Mr Colley’s release, but show president Mark Le Prevost said he was glad the delay in entering the island was handled quickly.
‘There was a slight hold up, but he’s here now and we’re looking forward to it,’ he said.
Guernsey’s Covid rules changed on Monday, meaning that any fully vaccinated adult who had their vaccination administered in the Common Travel Area, including the Isle of Man, EU or EFTA would be classified Category 2 if they have travelled anywhere outside of the Common Travel Area in the previous 14 days – as long as they have not spent any time in a country on the UK’s ‘red list’.
Public Health has been approached for comment.
