Lots of fun at the fair
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from May 1976.
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Rain showers, lasting less than one hour just before the King of the Fair contest, slightly dampened enthusiasm but most of the crowd stuck it out under shelter of the Scotia and Courts Buildings. Fortunately, the weather cleared in time for the contest and the rest of the events went as scheduled.
Next to the King of the Fair Contest, which was the highlight of the day with Graham Thompson winning for the second year in a row, the banana eating contest seemed to draw the most interest. This event was new for this year.
Surprisingly, local favoritetowin Parker Tibbetts ate only seven bananas before giving up with the hardier contestants such as Ellis Conolly and Edgar Merren surpassing him with 20 bananas consumed. The winner and still champion is Eddie Barnes who "inhaled" a remarkable 28 bananas in only three minutes to take the $25 prize. Observers and cheering fans likened Barnes performance to that of a vacuum cleaner saying he did not even bother to peel the fruit, but simply sucked them whole, into his mouth one after another from the skins.
Craig Sudman won the bicycle race for a $10 prize and Kirk McCartney came in second winning $5. Donald Duncan won the no boat race and the wheelbarrow race was cancelled for both lack of wheelbarrows and lack of contestants.
Stereo City backsup Edlin Myles and his Regeneration band with disco music for a rousing street dance at the close of the evening.
N.C.S.S. has only begun to tally the funds raised by the fair, but Len Cohen reports $122 for the banana eating contest and Raglan Roper's dancers and $99 from Jackie Balls' ballet show which is a good start.
The Boxing Association conducted three display bouts for spectators as an added attraction. Teenagers in three different weight categories participated in the matches.
Kiwanis prize 14-foot Summit power boat worth $1600 was won by lucky Dexter Ebanks, a police officer.
A wide variety of international foods were served including the Trinidadian speciality roti at the Trinidad booth. The spicy dish was prepared by Sue Thomas and Gaston Maloney.
The Caledonian Society had a tennis ball throw for kids and a contest to guess the amount of money in a jar.
The George Town Community Council had a pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey and a rummage sale. N.C.S.S. held a lucky dip with Ralph Coatsworth doing the honours. Very popular, the lucky dip was exhausted of the nearly $300-worth of donated goods in about an hour. Children's art was on display, Yrsa MacPeak representing the Agricultural Society had a very successful candy floss stand, and Jaycees sold balloons. The best thing of all was that everyone got a prize in all the booths and stalls just for participating and no children went home crying.
Certainly a large factor contributing to the success of the fair was the closing of the roads surrounding the grounds which insured a safe and happy day for all.
N.C.S.S wishes to extend special thanks to everyone who helped, among them the announcers from Radio Cayman: Joyann Bodden, Loxley Banks, and Doren Miller, Bernard Berry of Cable and Wireless for setting up the public address system, Caribbean Utilities for arranging the temporary electrical outlet at the site, Clarence Flowers and Lemuel Ebanks for their trucks and Mr. George Melvin Ryan transporting materials to the site, Graham Ebanks, Tommy Hurlstone and Gaston Maloney for help in erecting and dismantling the booths, the Kiwanis Club, the Lions, the Courts for permission to use the car park, the Health Department for help in the clean-up and the Fair committee.
The Fair seemed to be a success and the day went well. However, there appeared to be slightly less enthusiasm, and effort than last year from community and civic groups. The cleanup effort, which was especially messy due to the rain, was left to a discouraged group of about five goodnatured people who were exhausted by 10 p.m.
Last year, a large group of willing volunteers made the clean-up less of a chore.
The committee will, of course, be meeting to evaluate the Fair and discussing how to make it better for next year. The important thing is that people were enjoying themselves and the day went by without a single unpleasant incident. That, after all, is what Commonwealth Day is all about.
