SATURDAY, the first full day of the Whaley Water Weekend, was notable for its firsts. It was certainly the first time we had a hailstorm for W3. It came in the morning, but didn't last long, and gave way to a mainly sunny day.
The other firsts were:

*   the first time W3 had done the catering 'in house'
*  the first time we had had an 'oompah' band
* the first time there had been a BMX display

But, it was business as usual with the boat trips: five vessels constantly running up and down the canal with 'jollies trips' to the canal junction and longer heritage trips
to Bugsworth. By afternoon, more than 600 people had taken the free boat trips through the canal's 'green tunnel' under the trees, well up on last year's first day record.

Burgers - we call them Whaleyburgers because they are locally sourced through Wilds the butchers - caught the imagination of the crowd. They liked the idea of the organisers selling fast food, and ploughing back any profits into next year's event. In the first day, burger sales were between 600 and 700. We even had Whaley Bridge Town Council chairman Jon Goldfinch helping to cook the Whaleyburgers.

The oompah band - Whaley Bridge Brass Band disguised in shorts, boots and funny German accents - was vastly entertaining, another first. Baring knees on a slightly chilly day, they kept the crowd happy for nearly an hour.

Local youths brought a very different sort of entertainment with their BMX leaping, a good way to wind down the first part of the day. Later, local rock bands on stage gave a rousing end to Day One of W3.

Thanks to all the people who came, took boat trips, enjoyed the music and morris dancing from Powderkegs, bought a burger or visited our first 'fringe' event, the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Fingers crossed for Sunday weather.