Dual success at major events

SARK'S Island Games team returned to the island last weekend after an extremely successful foray into international sport.

Shooter Stefan Roberts came home with the full set of medals - a silver in the individual universal trench competition and a bronze in the individual automatic ball trap to go with the gold he won with Nick Dewe in the ball trap team event.

And the pair narrowly missed out on another bronze when they placed fourth in the universal trench team event.

Despite the fact that no other team member managed to get on the podium, I am told by those closer to events in the Isle of Wight than I was that all of them were a credit to their home island - and Sark can ask no more than that of them.

I'm delighted to say that their efforts were formally recognised on Wednesday when they were guests of honour at a vin d'honneur held at the Island Hall during the luncheon adjournment of Chief Pleas. That was a most appropriate recognition of what by any standards - but particularly so from a community as small as this - was a fine achievement.

It also pleases me to report on success of a different kind, but no less creditable in relation to those involved.

The second Sark Folk Festival took place last weekend and to describe it as yet another undoubted success runs the risk of understating the obvious.

Yet again it was a quite remarkable event - remarkable not only in the quality of the entertainment on offer and the superb organisation, but also in the fact that I have yet to hear a Sark resident complain about any aspect of it.

While much of the action took place at the designated festival locations, I have to say that it was a joy to see talented musicians displaying their undoubted skills anywhere that took their fancy.

In the short walk from the Collenette to the Post Office at the end of The Avenue on Sunday morning, I saw a young singer/guitarist strumming away near the carriage park and, further along the road, three musicians - from memory a guitarist, a chap playing what looked like a concertina and a woman doing a very effective musical job with a pair of spoons (the first time I've heard those in years) - just playing for the sheer pleasure of it.

As has already been reported, there wasn't a bed (or space to lay a sleeping bag) to be had for love nor money over the weekend and, despite the fact that the island's population probably more than trebled during the three-day event, it was a virtually trouble-free weekend.

As I recall saying a year ago after the inaugural event, this is the sort of tourism Sark should - and clearly does - welcome and I'm pleased to say that the 2012 festival is already being organised for the weekend of 29 and 30 June and 1 July.

Whether the island can cope with a significant increase in the numbers it hosted last weekend is a moot point and I'm pleased that the organisers appear to be embarking on a consultation process before making a final decision.

While the temptation no doubt exists to get bigger and better for 2012, there is a limit to how many people this small place can cope with - particularly in terms of those seeking accommodation - and Julie Barker from Sark Tourism's visitor centre told me that guest house and hotel bookings for next year's festival are already being made.

It sounds as if those interested in attending should start thinking about booking now.

* The email address for comment is fallesark@sark.net.