Bright sunshine for the undisputed Alderney Week family favourite event: The Daft Raft Race. “Weird and wonderful creations lined up on Braye Beach and large crowds gathered, filling the Douglas Quay, to watch the crazy races”, reports Peter Annereau in the Alderney Press (Issue 34 – 21 August 2009). “As well as creating unusual and eye-catching designs, the craft builders also showed much engineering talent this year as most survived the course to race again with a change of crew.”

“Tardis Tours, by the Beck and Cross families, was a popular winner of the trophy for the daftest raft with their entry which appeared to have flown through time direct from the “Dr Who” television series. “

“Other eye-catching entries included a large, upturned Mary Poppins umbrella, a basketwork carriage which was soon swamped by the opponents’ vigorous  paddling, and  cyclists peddling to turn a paddle wheel. “

“As with sailing races, position at the start was all important, and contestants had no chance to take advantage as the race direction was only determined at the last moment by the toss of a coin. As well as the danger of collision with other competitors there was an added hazard for crews as they rounded a buoy to  find that the lifeboat was not just standing by in case of an emergency but also involved in the fun – the crew turned a hose on paddlers as they passed.”

“Winners of the juniors race were Rowley and friends aboard HMS Kiss. The Rookie Monsters were second with HMS Sail and the Clark family’s robust HSM Alderney cam e in third.”

“In the senior’s race Vic and friends won on Rangoon, the James family were second on Around the World in a Daze, HMS Alderney was again third and fourth place went to Kerry the Crocodile entered by the Smith Family.”

“The Survivors’ Race ended in a second victory for Rangoon, this time followed by ‘The Hula Girls’ and ‘Madagascar Paddler’  (Wright family and friends)”.

This afternoon’s Mini Olympics were a great success with the youngsters and with so many promising athletes, Alderney could well be fielding its very own team in London 2012.

The Pet Show – another Alderney Week first – proved a very popular and highly competitive event  for 4-legged furry friends and their proud owners. But the black rescue cat’s shiny coat and purrfect behaviour clinched the ultimate prize of Best in Show.

   Evening:         

Alderney’s Got Talent – Sponsored by  The Fort Group,Alderney Angling  & Allsorts,

                    the Harbour Lights Hotel and  Channel Jumper.

The Eurovision Song Contest – Sponsored by The Moorings:

                   Sorry, no photographs available or submitted.  If you can help with

                   photographs of this event, we would be most grateful

The “Alderney’s Got Talent” Contest for the under 16’s proved once again the astounding depth of talent Alderney and the youngsters who visited the island for Alderney Week, can offer.  From poetry to dance, to martial arts, to singing and acting, there were no limits to their star quality. The judges were faced with a seriously challenging task to single out the winners:

And the winners were:

Age category 4-8:

1^st : Molly Mantle

2^nd: Kyra-Trinity Kentropp

3^rd: Alexander Poe

Age category 9-10:

1^st: Samuel McAllister

2^nd: Joe & Bennett Blackham

3^rd: Bryony & Serita

Age category: 11-15

1st: Clorinda Graham

2^nd: Jonathon Gibbs

3^rd: Jack Aitkin

And the overall winner of this year’s “Alderney’s Got Talent” competition was Clorinda Graham.