Going east: St. Georges skipper Oronde Bascome raises the Cup Match trophy, which he and his team (below) retained yesterday. For more Cup Match pictures go to Spotted on the Rock Photo by Mark Tatem

Photo by Mark Tatem

Despite the rain, thousands of people came out to watch the Cup Match festivities at the Somerset Cricket Club.

The game ended yesterday with a draw after the pitch was deemed unsafe for cricket players around 4 p.m. There was a total of 10,000 people in attendance over the two days.

According to a meteorologist at the Bermuda Weather Service, there was 1.61 inches of rain during this year's Emancipation celebration.

But the bad weather did not stop spectators like Lone Trott, 74, from enjoying the event.

The Somerset supporter said: "I find Cup Match very breathtaking, very nice. People get together and have a good time. It is about all of that. I am enjoying myself.

"Everyone has a good time, everyone is behaving themselves and to me you have as much white people as you have coloured people today. That is good too."

According to Mr. Trott, the metal detectors helped make sure no one brought weapons or other items on to the field. "They should do that for every game that you go to in Bermuda, not only Cup Match," he said.

He didn't mind the new rules forbidding people from bringing in alcoholic drinks other than traditional Rum Swizzle. However Harold Simmons, 61, said not being able to bring your own drinks "messes up the party".

The St. George's fan said: "It costs too much money for us to buy our own alcohol. But we have had a good day. It has been a great day even though it got wet."

Belcario Thomas, of Unite Promotions, said he liked the sense of national unity he witnessed.

"Cup Match is one of the times when we come together and celebrate being on this beautiful Island," the businessman said.

"Races, cultures nationalities come together to enjoy the festivities. It is one of the few times we do it so we should do it more often."

Even visitors like Caroline Nicholas, 23, from Ireland and Dan Landis, 26, from the United States enjoyed their first Cup Match on the Island.

Ms Nicholas said: "Everyone is having a good time, up for the partying. The atmosphere is electric and it is brilliant. It is festive, I have never been to anything like it before in my life."

Mr. Landis, a Temple University student from Philadelphia, said: "It is good. Even though the rain is here it is pretty good."

While many were enjoying the day off work, Ali Bardgett, from East End Flower Alley, was working selling shirts in the Crown and Anchor stall.

According to Ms Bardgett the first time business venture was a success.

She said: "The shirts are going like crazy. People love it because it is so different. Even though the rain came work is great for us because everyone got wet and they all wanted dry shirts."

The stall also had a promotion on for those who won three Crown or three Anchor games, to get a discounted price on the T-shirts.

Philip Bailey, from 'All 4 Fun' party group said the weather had put a "damper" on his business selling airbrush tattoos and snow cones.

But Mr Bailey added: "People are still coming out, enjoying the atmosphere of cricket, socialising and just having a great time at the game."

Kyle James said some of the stricter rules were "cutting out the tradition of Cup Match. He said: "It is not the same because it is becoming more business than culture."

Still the 23-year-old said he enjoyed the festivities with a friend from overseas and was reminded of everything that is different and unique about the Island.

l Match report on Page 21. More pictures on Page 25.

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