HUNDREDS of people attended the annual Ventry regatta on Sunday and although the sky was overcast and misty the atmosphere on land and sea was bright and festive. Despite the mist and occasional drizzle, the day was warm enough for swimming and families enjoyed picnics on the strand where many of them became engaged in sculpting creative works from sand and other beach materials for the beach art competition.

This competition had the highest number of entries ever and the judges spent a long time deciding on where to award the prizes.

One of those judges was Chet Raymo, former Professor Emeritus of Physics at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachussetts. He is also a writer and his books include 'Climbing Brandon' and the 'Dork of Cork' which was made into the film Frankie Starlight.

"My family have been spending the summers here in Ventry for the past 38 years so we're almost locals. This competition was very challenging from a judge's perspective because of the numbers of entries but we tend to go for the ones that attract the most attention from people passing by," he said.

One of the organisers, Joan Maguire, was keeping people informed of the day's many events as well as providing a running commentary via the public address system on the naomhóg racing in the harbour.

Crews began gathering on the pier shortly after 1.30pm and the first race, for U18 mixed crews, got underway 40 minutes later and saw the crew of Kevin and Lisa Granville, Eoin Griffin and Marie Danagher take the top spot.

In the senior men's race one naomhóg arrived at the starting line with two women in the crew. The gender anomaly led to a disqualification and the race got off to a slightly delayed start. Victory in the closely contested race went to the Maharees crew of Kieran Browne, Jackie Goodwin, Danny Scanlon and Vincent Wyles for the third successive year.

The women's race was won by another Maharees crew made up of Anne Potter, Ailish Deane, Eibhlín Quirke and Lia O'Sullivan. Ailish Deane later joined forces with Brian Kennedy to win the one man/one woman race.

The regatta also had a race for U12 crews whose skill in handling their boats was a tribute to the training they receive from Eddie Hutchinson and Monza Heidtke. The event was won by Gearóid Breathnach, Jamie Granville, Seilí Ann Lynch and Megan Ní Fhlannúra.

In the U16 event the winners were Róisín Breathnach, Eabha Ní Chiobháin, Eoin Greaney and Dara Ó Ciobháin and the final race of the afternoon, the mixed race, was won by Ann Potter, Eileen Quirke, Ciarán Browne and PJ Griffin. Two of that foursome, Eileen Quirke and Ciarán Browne also won the Best Senior Oarswoman and Best Senior Oarsman awards respectively.

Meanwhile, back on the strand Noirín Ní Chruadhlaoich was marshalling children and adults for the eagerly awaited family sports which included sprinting, crawling races, wheelbarrow races, sack races and piggy-back races.

There was also a cic fada (long kick) competition with prizes of footballs signed by Árd a' Bhóthar's football greats. The junior event was won by John Joe Hussey while Michael Carrig took the senior section.

The various events provided endless enjoyment for competitors, supporters and viewers.

Up in the carpark queues formed at each of the food and ice cream vendors' vans and one young local lad had his own creative enterprise set up. Eight year-old Adam Byrne was selling his home-made blend of freshly squeezed oranges and lemons under the brand name of 'Adamade'. Helped by his cousin Conor Donoghue, Adam was pulling in 50 cent a cup for his produce and customers expressed surprise and satisfaction as they downed the cooling beverage.

In the evening, events moved to the green at the village where Deaglán Ó Maoileoin showed his prowess in winning the horse shoe throwing competition with John Harte taking second spot.

And in the Feis Filíochta, TV producer Brenda Ní Shúilleabháin's composition won her the poetry award ahead of Ainde Uí Fhloinn.

- Photo by Ted Creedon