Ruth Layne showing off her winning work after the fish boning competition.

by CARLOS ATWELL

THERE WAS FOOD, drink, music, jumping tents, fashion shows, and even casino style gambling tables at Oistins Fish Festival 2006 yesterday.

Hundreds of people descended on Oistins, Christ Church, to experience another year of fun and competition and both were in high supply, under the watchful eye of the Royal Barbados Police Force.

From the boat competition, to the much anticipated FirstCaribbean Bank-sponsored dolphin skinning and Chefette-sponsored fish-boning competitions, to the all-new fish fry competition, there was something for everyone.

Chairman of the Festival Committee, Dan Carter, said the event was a success, but wished for more corporate involvement.

"The festival has been well received with a successful fish fry competition. There has been some improvement from last year, but we need more volunteers to come on board, and especially from corporate Barbados," he said.

These sentiments were echoed by Graham Bannister, regional operations manager of Caribworld Home Shopping. He presented the winner of the fish-boning competition, Ruth Layne, with a set of Titanium II professional knives.

"This is a decision I took, along with the rest of my team, to show support for a cultural festival which is not only for Oistins, but the whole of Barbados. I call on corporate Barbados to come together to not only sponsor prestigious events like golf, polo, and horse racing, but local events which will make Barbados more marketable, not only to the region, but internationally as well," he said.

He added Caribworld would be seeking to play a larger part in the festival in the future.

The day featured a major upset as six-time dolphin- skinning champion, Tyrone "Dolphin" Shorey, was defeated by rival Fabian Doughty. An elated Doughty said he had Shorey's style "figured out" from last year's competition in which he placed second.

Shorey, however, was undaunted and vowed to return next year with a new strategy, even though he thought he should have won.

"It's the judges' decision, all that is life. Nothing can stop me from coming back next year, and I will know how to come," he said.

Ruth Layne was the first-time winner of the fish-boning competition. It was only her second try, as she failed to finish last year. Shorey, the lone male in the competition, placed third.

"I feel great. I kind of thought I won, but my fish were soft and you have a better chance of winning with firmer fish, so I had to handle them properly," she said.

Layne, who operated out of the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex, said she would be back to defend her title.

As for next year, Carter said the festival would feature a host of new events.

"What we plan to do is have a month of activities leading up to next year's festival as we anticipate lots of tourists for the Cricket World Cup, and we want them to have additional options in terms of activities.

"We will be staging a mini carnival from Silver Sands to Oistins with bands and there will also be a monument to the establishment of the 1652 Bill of Rights Charter," he said.

Carter said they would be having meetings "very soon" with the Oistins Development Committee where they would see how the festival would fit with planned new developments.

* carlosatwell@nationnews.com