The 20th Nailsea Community skatepark festival on a sunny summer Saturday,  July 16, was definitely worth the wait.

Thanks go to event director Phil Williams for these words and some of the photos and Paul O'Connor who acted as the main event photographer.

Phil said: "In its 20th year the Nailsea community skatepark festival took place in blazing sunshine on Saturday at the Millennium Park, but despite the heat everybody on the skate park managed to put in an incredible performance throughout the day.

"Organisers were really pleased to have such a great entry of local competitors, as well as travelling competitors in a range of categories in the scooter, skateboard and rollerblade disciplines.

"Due to Covid, we had not been able to run the event for the past two years, so it was great to be back in person at the ‘new’ park still looking in great shape since it was built five years ago.

"The event had to be postponed again from late June due to predicted rain, but there were no such concerns for this one.

"The volunteers and those who put the event together made extra plans to draft in gazebos and ensure everybody had a place to chill, and it was nice to see the trees providing great additional shade.

"The festival didn’t just provide action on the skate park, but there was plenty to do in the Millennium Park itself with refreshments from crepes to barbecue and some stalls highlighting amongst other things Wellspring Counselling, Clevedon Skatepark Project, Nailsea Community Trust, Nailsea Pump Track Project and a display of pictures from the past 20 years of the skate fest.

"There was table tennis and pool tables and youth chillout area, as well as a children’s area with lots of activities.

"Due to the heat the dance troupe TLF requested to come on a little bit earlier and did fantastically well through a medley of dances.

"With regards the skate park some great tunes from the DJ meant that both heats of all the categories were energetically ran with many of the competitors wowing the crowds with some crazy manoeuvres.

"In the girl’s category, there was one brilliant young lady called Lexie who took away the prizes, and two young men Theo and Jacob aged just six years old who took away the awards for the youngest competitors.

"In the two scooter categories the u12s really scooted well with a very close decision Bristol’s Henry Cole just taking the win ahead of Mani Palmer and Nailsea’s Jacob Lamb.

"A really strong showing in the older category saw Bristol’s Harvey Bevan, taking the victory ahead of Adan Powis and local scooter rider Jake Vickers.

"It was great to see a lot of skateboarders this year and in the skate u11s Will from Backwell beat Max and Oli to the title, while in the 12-15 category, Clevedon’s Archie beat Nailsea’s Somerset Hanson to win the title.

"The over 16 skate category was very hotly contested and in a close heat Nailsea Rob Waghorn just beating fellow locals Dennis Luffman and Anis Tebib to the 2022 title.

"For the first time in a number of years there was a good contingent of rollerbladers with Swindon’s Danny Brain beating Max Bladins and Nailsea’s Larry Oates.

"This event was a celebration of Toby Riley life who passed away just over a year ago, and it was fantastic to have his mum and dad, Suzy and Al, present to hand over the trophies.

"Organisers also handed the family a commemorative trophy in memory of Toby, and all that the park meant to him.

"Just before the presentation Christ Church priest-in-charge Jules Harris explained about her role, listening and be prepared to talk to people about anything that they might want to bring up, and also if requested to pray with people as well as assisting with practical support."

Sponsors from the start included Holy Trinity Church, Christian Surfers and