Buckets of fun, talent in spades

From the Western Telegraph, first published Wednesday 18th Aug 2004.

LOCALS and visitors flocked to Whitesands Beach on Monday for the annual Sand Church Contest.

Armed with buckets and spades, entrants of all ages got down to some serious sand sculpting under ominous-looking skies.

The variety of sand churches this year was impressive, ranging from classic cathedrals to Inca-inspired constructions and eastern temples, and from stand-alone structures to entire villages.

Many had painstakingly-rendered details such as tiny graveyards, stained-glass windows and cobbled paths.

When the end of the competition drew near, entrants made last minute tweaks to their masterpieces before downing tools and clearing the arena.

The judges - the Dean of St Davids, the Very Rev Wyn Evans; Bishop's Palace-based Amanda Canby-Lewis, of Cadw, and Jenny Hanson, of the Western Telegraph - faced the difficult task of picking the best of an extremely impressive bunch as the rain started to fall.

After careful but speedy deliberation - due to the threat of the sand churches being damaged by the deluge - the judges handed over their choices to Rod Williams, of the St Davids Peninsula Tourist Association.

Mr Williams thanked everybody for their participation, before he announced the winners of the £25 prizes to the expectant crowd.

There were commiserations, mixed with cries of triumph, but everybody agreed that it had been a very enjoyable day out.

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