You just need to know where to go…

Family fun

Sunday brunch

Wear your fancy outfit, but nothing that fits too tightly around the waist. Sunday brunch is a treat: a rare chance to indulge in some of the finest foods Bermuda has to offer, and a time to shine for our super-talented chefs.

Unlimited trips to the buffet table mean you don’t have to choose between salad, soup, sushi, roasted meats, pasta, or good old Bermudian classics. You can have it all … and then go back for dessert.

Where to find it: Pick your favourite hotel or restaurant, or one you’ve never tried before.

RG top tip: Don’t make plans for Sunday dinner – you won’t need to eat again until Monday evening.

Kicking back with friends

Beach day

If it’s good enough for the thousands of visitors that flock to Bermuda every summer, it’s good enough for us, right?

Appreciate the beauty on your doorstep by making Saturday beach day with your amigos. No matter what kind of beach you’re looking for, you can find the perfect one for everyone.

Where to find it: Horseshoe Bay for crowds and camaraderie; Astwood Park for tranquil scenery; Tobacco Bay for water activities; Hog Bay Beach for waves; John Smith’s Bay for BBQ; Snorkel Park Beach Club for parties; Glass Beach for something you won’t find anywhere else.

RG top tip: Nominate the most reliable member of the group to bring the cooler and ice – the staple of your afternoon. Flakier folks can contribute chips and drinks.

Hot dates

Glass-bottom boat trip

We’re rightly proud of our many delicious dining spots and their sumptuous settings – but for a truly spectacular romantic experience, get out on our wondrous waters.

A glass-bottom boat trip gives you and your partner a front-row seat to beauty that people travel thousands of miles to witness, from our coral reefs and turtles to the shipwrecks and their mesmerising tales.

Where to find it: Hamilton options include Bermuda Reef Explorer; Dockyard’s offerings include the Glass Bottom Boat Cruise.

RG top tip: Stories from your ship’s captain will give you something to chat about as you look back on your adventure while sipping cocktails at a waterfront bar.

Mingle when you’re single

Explore something new

There are so many stories to hear about our amazing island – and so many new friends to make while you do it.

Walking tours, cycling tours and adventure trips on the water or land add up to a great day out, whether you’re part of a group or on your own. And they’re a great way to find like-minded people who share your inquisitive nature.

Where to find it: Long Story Short in St George’s; Bermuda Watersports in Sandys; Crystal Caves; take your pick from the reams of activities on offer at Island Tour Centre in Dockyard.

RG top tip: Don’t be that person who hides at the back of the group. Make the most of your tour guide: ask questions to find out what makes this place so special.

2026 Weekend Events

July 30 to August 2: Cup Match weekend

August 30: Sandcastle Competition at Horseshoe Bay

October 8-11: Taste of Bermuda food festival, Hamilton

October 11: Round the Sound charity swim, Harrington Sound

November 15: Cambridge Beaches Triathlon

December 4: Bermuda National Trust Christmas Walkabout, St George’s

December 12: Christmas Boat Parade, Hamilton Harbour

• Dates correct at time of going to press. Check The Royal Gazette for updates and new events.

The post Weekends in Bermuda appeared first on RG Magazines.

Few people understand that energy better than local DJ and entertainer Rusty G, who is thrilled by the prospects of this year’s line-up of events.

“This summer honestly feels like one of the biggest in recent memory,” he said. “There are tons of amazing events going on and I’m particularly excited about the concerts happening around Cup Match.”

Among the headline events are performances by dancehall artist Mavado and Trinidadian soca favourites Kes the Band, both set to perform during the lead-up to and around our favourite national holiday.

“Mavado on July 25 and Kes on July 29, plus Cup Match staples like Wete Fete and Bacchanal Run, means the week is going to be action packed,” Rusty G said.

Kes the Band are no strangers to Bermuda audiences, having previously performed on the island during the 2017 America’s Cup celebrations. At the time, lead singer Kees Dieffenthaller described Bermuda as a “beautiful place” and praised the island’s crowd energy.

For Rusty G, local audiences bring a unique atmosphere that performers genuinely look forward to experiencing.

“Bermuda really comes alive in the summer,” he said. “There’s a different energy in the people that I can’t really explain.”

That atmosphere becomes especially noticeable around Cup Match, when the island’s social scene shifts into high gear. From large concerts to beach events and late-night parties, live entertainment becomes a major part of the holiday experience.

For entertainers, reading that energy and responding to it is part of the job. Rusty G believes strong performances and consistency are what help artists and DJs stand out in Bermuda’s competitive entertainment scene.

“There’s a lot of ways that entertainers build their brands,” he said in a previous interview with The Royal Gazette. “I always just try to make sure that I give really strong, energetic stage performances.”

Preparation, he added, is equally important — especially when performing for crowds with high expectations.

“You’ve got to do your homework before you go,” he said. “Ask other DJs and artists and the promoters what kind of vibes are people expecting. And then do your homework and just pay attention and make sure that you’re on point when you get there.”

Social media has also played a growing role in helping local entertainers expand beyond Bermuda. According to Rusty G, it has helped introduce his work to international audiences and led to opportunities overseas.

“Clips of my performances in Bermuda ended up growing my social media and people in other places saw them and decided to book me. So, it’s all that put together, and just being consistent I guess.”

Still, Bermuda remains one of his favourite places to perform, particularly during the summer season when music and celebration become part of everyday island life.

With thousands expected to attend concerts and events over the Cup Match period, Rusty G believes this summer could be one to remember.

Mavado will perform in Bermuda on Saturday, July 25. For tickets, visit gpass.bm. Cup Match Ignite featuring Kes the Band takes place on Wednesday, July 29, the day before Cup Match. Tickets are available at Ptix.bm. Both concerts will take place at the National Stadium.

The post Summer sounds appeared first on RG Magazines.

As dancers moved across the field carrying flags from across the Americas, the sight of Bermuda’s flag woven into the choreography sparked an immediate reaction across the island. Phones lit up. Families shouted from living rooms. Group chats exploded. Social media quickly filled with videos, screenshots, and emotional reactions from Bermudians who could hardly believe they were seeing their country represented on one of the world’s largest entertainment stages.

But behind that moment was a far more personal story.

Few people realised that the dancer carrying the Bermuda flag, Julianna Holland, had chosen it because of a Bermudian friend she met while studying dance in Los Angeles.

That friend was Naysaa Tucker (pronounced Na-Say-Ah).

For Naysaa, dance started long before Los Angeles studios and choreography sessions. Her journey began with what she laughingly describes as “incorrect ballet attire” and an unexpected trip to town orchestrated by her mother. Her sister, Tine Tucker, said Naysaa was originally placed in dance to help her “become less shy” and to encourage her to express herself more freely.

“My introduction to dance was through incorrect ballet attire and a random drive to town,” Naysaa recalled.

“My mom was definitely the instigator in dropping me off at the studio, no words necessary.”

Family support quietly shaped what came next. Eventually, that support carried her from Bermuda to Los Angeles, where she now dances and choreographs under instructors immersed in the professional dance industry.

Naysaa, 21, met Julianna in October 2024 after Julianna transferred from another Los Angeles campus. Their friendship grew through rehearsals, long studio days, and weekly evening classes, where students often struggled to find energy after exhausting days.

Over time, Bermuda became a regular part of their conversations. Naysaa spoke openly about the island, its culture, its people, and everyday life back home. Julianna was consistently curious, not in the distant way outsiders can sometimes approach Bermuda, but with the genuine interest of someone wanting to understand a friend more deeply.

“In a way, I figured I intrigued her with information on the lively island that she didn’t know existed in the Atlantic,” Naysaa said.

What she never imagined was that those conversations would eventually lead Julianna to select the Bermuda flag for one of the most watched performances in the world.

When the Super Bowl aired months later, Naysaa learned that Julianna had intentionally chosen to carry the Bermuda flag during the choreography.

“The extent to which led to her choice of flag was a sincere surprise,” she said.

For many Bermudians, the halftime show carried meaning beyond entertainment. Through music, choreography, and the visual representation of flags from across Latin America, the Caribbean and beyond, the performance communicated cultural pride, unity and belonging. At a time when international headlines and political discourse often feel dominated by division and hostility, the performance presented something different. It celebrated connection across borders, languages, and identities.

“I believe the wider message of this experience is just overall cultural pride and a manifesto of unity,” Naysaa reflected.

As Bermudians, we often pride ourselves on being friendly and acting as natural ambassadors for our country when we travel or live overseas for work or school.

Naysaa’s experience is a reminder that sharing stories about Bermuda, our culture and the lives we live here can leave a lasting impression in ways we may never fully realise. And sometimes those small, genuine connections can carry a piece of Bermuda further than we ever imagined.

The post From Bermuda to the Super Bowl appeared first on RG Magazines.

The Psychology of Money

By Morgan Housel

Taking a different perspective on how we spend money, Morgan Housel shares 19 short stories that look at the psychology behind our relationship with money. Housel, a partner in the Collaborative Fund – a leading source of capital for innovative entrepreneurs – explores how it is that our behaviour towards money can dictate our financial success and unique view of the world mixed with many other influences. The Psychology of Money was Royalty Bookstore’s May pick for their Money Matters Book Club that takes place at the Bermuda National Library. Visit @royaltybda on Instagram for more information.

Anatomy of a Breakthrough

By Adam Alter

If you’re finding yourself stuck in a rut, maybe it’s a mid-life crisis or you’re feeling trapped and uninspired in your current job, this may be the book for you. Adam Alter guides readers through his two decades of research and through hands-on, practical examples helps you break free from thoughts, habits, jobs and relationships that are potentially holding you back from achieving your full potential. With a mix of stories, anecdotes and interviews, all backed with scientific studies, this book will help you see some of the greatest tools, many in plain sight, to help get unstuck and reach your goals.

Perfectly Good Food: A Totally Achievable Zero Waste Approach to Home Cooking

By Margaret Li and Irene Li

It can be pretty discouraging to open up the fridge and try to figure out putting together a decent meal with the bits and bobs of leftovers, wilted veggies and almost-empty-jars. But along with reducing our waste and saving money, this cookbook is full of tips and adaptable recipes that will make opening the fridge endlessly inspiring instead of a drag. Written by two sisters who have worked in the restaurant business for a decade, they put the professional know-how of reducing restaurant waste and therefore cutting costs into this bright and informative book but make it easily adaptable for home cooks.

Baking Yesteryear: The Best Recipes from the 1900s to the 1980s

B. Dylan Hollis

If you haven’t yet had a chance to watch Bermudian and TikTok sensation B. Dylan Hollis make some of the wackiest historical recipes and be completely and hilariously surprised by some of the results (both the good and the bad), make sure to spend some time enjoying his social media channels. Then enjoy the fact that he’s baked hundreds of recipes from many old and antique cookbooks, and picked the best of the best from each decade, and included only a few of the flops, in his first cookbook all done with his trademark wit and perfectly timed puns.

The post Educational and Entertaining Reads appeared first on RG Magazines.

As summer embraces the picturesque island of Bermuda, its vibrant music scene comes alive, enticing locals and visitors alike with the enchanting melodies and infectious beats. From pulsating reggae rhythms to soul-stirring jazz and everything in between, Bermuda offers an eclectic range of live music experiences that are sure to leave you spellbound. So grab your hat and dancing shoes as we share five fantastic venues where you can immerse yourself in the rhythmic pulse of Bermuda this summer!

SEA BREEZE LOUNGE

Friday nights at Sea Breeze Lounge at the Lido Complex are legendary with amazing cocktails, great tapas and fantastic entertainment. This summer is no exception with Friday night entertainment provided by Silver City, a band featuring Jesse Seymour, Ben Payne, DJ Felix and Kassie Caines. Catch the band from 8pm to 1am every Friday night.

CROWN + ANCHOR

Hamilton Princess is always a hub of activity right in the heart of the City of Hamilton. There is always entertainment and this summer is no exception. On Thursday’s, you’ll find Working Title performing reggae, soca and afrobeats covers from 7pm to 10pm.

BIRD CAGE

Bermuda’s most quirky and edgy cocktail bar is the place to be on Thursday nights for live entertainment. From 5:30pm to 8:30pm, various Bermudian artists will perform a large variety of music overlooking Hamilton Harbour. Enjoy the music while sipping a fabulous craft cocktail from the extensive menu.

THE REEFS

There is a variety of entertainment on offer at The Reefs during the summer whether you like classic piano, acoustic guitar or ukulele. On Monday’s, be entertained by pianist Tony Bari at the Clubhouse Bar and Lounge from 7pm to 10pm. Thursday’s feature Tony B with solo guitar at Coconuts from 6:30pm to 10pm and then Rewind featuring Sarah and TonyB on Friday’s at the Clubhouse from 7:30pm to 10:30pm. Round out the weekend with Mike “Uncle Elvis” Hind on the ukulele at the Clubhouse from 7pm to 10pm.

MAREE LOUNGE AT THE LOREN

If you’re a jazz lover, head to Maree Lounge at The Loren for Tino Martinez and his quarter. A talented saxophonist, Martinez brings the grown and sexy vibes every other Thursday to the boutique hotel. Remaining dates for the summer are July 20, August 10, August 24, September 7, September 24, October 5 and October 19.

So, whether you prefer the lively atmosphere of a bar, the soothing sounds of a beachside retreat, or the elegance of a luxury resort, Bermuda has an incredible selection of live music venues to suit your taste. Immerse yourself in the island’s vibrant music scene this summer and let the rhythms of Bermuda ignite your soul

The post Live Music | Where to get it this summer appeared first on RG Magazines.

Summer in Bermuda is truly like no other and as we are in full swing, it’s time to prepare yourself for an extraordinary summer filled with an array of captivating events. From electrifying entertainment to dazzling cultural celebrations, Bermuda has something for everyone. Allow us to present the best of the best for Bermuda’s summer events, promising unforgettable experiences that will leave you enchanted and longing for more. Here are the top ten events happening in Bermuda this summer in no particular order that you absolutely shouldn’t miss.

CUP MATCH CLASSIC

Cup Match is truly Bermuda at its best and easily the most entertaining weekend on the calendar. Cup Match – a celebration of emancipation – is a two-day cricket match held on the last Thursday and Friday of July or the first Thursday and Friday in August. This beloved Bermudian tradition brings the island to life with passionate fans, live music, plenty libations and delicious food. This year, the game will be held at St. George’ Cricket Club on August 3rd and 4th and entry is $20 per day. Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere and cheer for your favourite team.

BERMUDA TRIPLE CROWN BILLFISH CHAMPIONSHIP

Fishing enthusiasts, this one’s for you! The Bermuda Triple Crown Billfish Championship is a thrilling tournament held from July to August, attracting anglers from around the world. Watch as skilled fishermen compete to catch the biggest billfish and experience the excitement firsthand. Here are the key dates:

• Bermuda Billfish Blast July 3 – 7
• Bermuda Billfish Release Cup July 9-11
• Bermuda Big Game Classic July 13-17
• Sea Horse Anglers Club Billfish Tournament July 20-24
• For more information, visit www.bermudatriplecrown.com

NON-MARINERS RACE

While this event does happen during the Cup Match weekend, it’s completely separate. The Non-Mariners race features unique, homemade boats participating in a fun race on the water. The “boats” rarely float, which adds to the humour of the non-race. There will be colourful costumes, creative boat designs and lots of fun. Non-Mariners is held the Sunday of Cup Match weekend (August 6 this year) at Mangrove Bay. The best way to attend is by boat.

BERMUDA SANDCASTLE COMPETITION

Held at one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the Bermuda Sandcastle Competition features gorgeous creations by masterful sculptors. The event will be held on September 2 this year at Horseshoe Bay Beach. You can either get in on the action and enter or enjoy the beautiful intricate designs. The Bermuda Sandcastle Competition is great fun for the whole family.

HARBOUR NIGHTS

Family fun is on offer every single Wednesday in the City of Hamilton thanks to Harbour Nights. The popular street festival is held from 7pm to 10pm weekly throughout the summer and showcases local dancers, musicians, artisans, food vendors, a kids zone and much more. Harbour NIghts gives residents and visitors the opportunity to sample local delicacies, purchase Bermudian crafts, enjoy traditional dancing and much more.

DESTINATION DOCKYARD

Head west this summer for Destination Dockyard with four monthly events happening during the season on the North Lawn. Destination Dockyard is a fun-filled event for the whole family featuring an array of local vendors, artists, and talented entertainers. The perfect way to spend a mid-week, family evening. The children can enjoy fun castles and a bite to eat, while the adults bask in the local entertainment and shopping. The remaining dates for Destination Dockyard are July 20 and August 24 for the “big bang” finale.

EASTERN COUNTY CRICKET GAMES

Eastern County Cricket is similar to Cup Match but at the same time, very different. The Eastern County Cricket Association (ECCA) comprises four county cricket clubs – Flatts Victoria (FVCC), Cleveland (CCCC), Bailey’s Bay (BBCC) and St. David’s (SDCCC). There are three games – the first held two weeks before Cup Match, the second game two weeks after Cup Match and the last game is two weeks after the second. Eastern County has been played since 1904 and is played at Lords at SDCCC or Sea Breeze Oval at BBCC on a year’s schedule. The atmosphere is vibrant and fun with great local food, Crown and Anchor and endless entertainment.

ST. GEORGE’S SEAFOOD FESTIVAL

This event was launched last summer and it was insanely successful! Popular vendors quickly ran out of fresh seafood and the entertainment was top notch. The event is held on Ordnance Island in St. George’s and celebrates Bermuda’s rich seafood culture. From fresh fried fish to shrimp to mussel pies to conch fritters, you’ll find it all here at this fantastic event. There will also be top notch Bermudian singers and DJs, bars serving up great cocktails and so much more. St. George’s Seafood Festival will be held on September 16 from 12 noon to 7pm.

BACCHANAL RUN

If you missed Carnival in Bermuda in June, Bacchanal Run delivers the J’ouvert vibes for a fraction of the cost. Bacchanal Run is organized by Party People and is one of the best parties over the Cup Match weekend. Hundreds of revellers head to Bernard Park for a warm up and then follow the big music truck around Pembroke for a lively, colourful party on the road with paint, powder and sprays of water. The party loops back to Bernard Park for more enjoyment with Bermuda;s top DJs and entertainers. Bacchanal Run will be held on August 5.

BERMUDA PRIDE HOMECOMING

Bermuda celebrates Pride in August and Bermuda Pride will host a number of events this year including a takeover of Harbour Nights, Open Mic Night, Pride Prom, Pride Parade and Drag Brunch. This year’s events are focused on “homecoming” and the committee invites those in the LGBTQ+ community who have left the island to return home to celebrate how far Bermuda has come and to recognize how much more work there is to do. The events will be held from August 23 to 27 in the City of Hamilton. For more info, visit www.pride.bm.

And there you have it, ten fantastic events happening in Bermuda this summer. From cultural celebrations to sporting events and food festivals, there’s something for everyone. Add these events to your calendar and enjoy the rest of the summer.

The post Bermuda Bliss appeared first on RG Magazines.

Adrian Roach starts boxing training at 5am every day. He also trains every lunch time and again in the evening.

In between all that, he’s working hard in the classroom at Crandall University, New Brunswick, Canada, as he studies for his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology.

Such is the dual workload for a young man pursuing a successful athletic career as well as the long-term goal of a rewarding professional life afterwards.

“It’s a very tedious schedule. You get tired mentally and physically,” said Mr Roach, 20.

“But if you stay on top of it and manage your time properly, it doesn’t have to be a stressful experience.”

Mr Roach started boxing at Controversy Gym, below the Queen’s Club in Hamilton, when he was 15.

He landed his big opportunity when a representative from Crandall visited the Island to ask Bermuda Boxing Federation if it had any suitable candidates for a boxing scholarship.

That solved a dilemma for the sports star, who had planned to go to school in Alabama, but was concerned he might not have enough time to train to continue his boxing development.

Now in the third year of his four-year degree, Mr Roach said: “Usually, the first response I get when I tell people I have a boxing scholarship is, ‘Oh you can get one for that?!’”

While Mr Roach has been tipped for stardom in the boxing ring, he places just as much emphasis on the academic side of university.

“Not only does it allow you to continue with your athletic career, but you get the fallback plan that the degree gives you,” he said.

“As an athlete, you like to think you will go on forever in sport. That’s simply not true. You have a few years of playing, and then you have the rest of your long life.

“By the time I finish boxing, I will have a legacy, and want to make enough money to not have to work again. But I still plan to open a gym and run a physiotherapy business.”

Boxing has already given Mr Roach the experience of fighting in venues including New York and Edmonton, Canada, as well as at the American Boxing Confederation Championships in Ecuador.

But above all that, he treasures the relationships he has been able to build.

“You get to make friends you never would have met. You make lifelong friends. You get to compete and train with them.”

So how does he manage that heavy training and academic schedule?

“It’s pretty easy to stay away from the nightlife, because that’s a very important part of being an athlete anyway,” he said. “I get to bed early so I can function properly the next day! It’s always going to be time management. You have to be dedicated to your craft.

“It’s going to be hard for four years of your life. Once you retire from sport, you have the rest of your life to live the way you want.”

The post ADRIAN ROACH: BOXING CLEVER appeared first on RG Magazines.

Henry Liam Ward is an internationally acclaimed portrait artist who calls Bermuda home. His portrait of Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II – which was commissioned by the Red Cross in 2015 – was celebrated internationally and today hangs in Windsor Castle. Henry possesses an uncanny ability to capture the human form through light, and space, and his work is currently on show at the Bermuda National Gallery (BNG).

RG Mags: Tell us about your background.

Henry Ward: I grew up in an incredible house on the Essex/Suffolk border before moving to Bermuda in 1987, with my parents – Puisne Justice Martyn and Mrs Rosanna Ward. My parents led an incredibly affluent life, and were surrounded by all manner of artists and eccentrics – painters, opera singers, writers, members of the Judiciary, sheriffs, and crazy aristocrats – most of whom were internationally renowned and (in)famous!

This background instilled a sense of difference in me – indeed, to be different was obligatory. Success followed all of these people and was in tune with my parents, who were also highly successful, accomplished, and driven. All of these influences led to me developing my sense of being, through my work.

RG Mags: Why Art?

HW: I was drawing before I was walking or talking. It was a path that was chosen for me, and one which I have cultivated through many long years of dedication and application.

To me, the concept of recording the world became a fundamentally different process after my father’s death in 1991. In the depths of my loss, I realised that the making of art is far from an easy process. Art suddenly became a means by which I could look at the big questions of human existence and come to a sense of peace, or at the least, understanding.

Human experience is one that can be gilt-edged with beauty and vivacity, and yet the finality, actuality, and immediacy of death is ever present. It is to this that I refer in my paintings of people – glistening like brilliant jewels against the uncompromising darkness of the universe.

RG Mags: Discuss your favorite artists, and medium.

HW: Like so many figurative artists, I am drawn to the old masters – Leonardo, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Velazquez, Vermeer. There is a truth in the process of creating that cheats time. As such, the processes of oil painting are the direct extension of this creative continuity. Oil paint is a medium that can be applied in layers and washes; over considerable periods of time. As the work ages, so does the subject sitting for me; and therein lies the synchronicity of human life and the making of paintings.

RG Mags: Tell us about your personal favorites of your own work.

HW: This is such a difficult question, as I am never satisfied with my work. Indeed, if the artist made the perfect work, they would never work again. I prefer, instead, to think of importance and relevance as key signifiers of my best work. With this in mind, ‘The Dance’ is up there with my most important works in its expression of my philosophy, and its use of young ballerinas to express the poetic fragility of life, whilst also celebrating human diversity in cooperation on the existential plane.

RG Mags: Where do you see your Art going next?

HW: The processes employed in my work have led me to explore the limits of representational painting. The ‘Ballerina’ painting at the BNG is one of the most important works in the exhibition, as it is the furthest I have pushed the limits of cogent naturalism.

The power of restraint, in withholding meaning, ironically, leads to universality in the presentation of a philosophy. As such, I see a move further into abstraction in the future – in the same way that Giacometti might build up a form, then whittle it down to its most concentrated essence.

The post Henry Liam Ward: A Portrait of A Creator appeared first on RG Magazines.

Story by Tim Smith

In the beginning, it was just an idea to solve the problem of pack racers on Bermuda roads.

But over the past five decades, motocross has created numerous sporting legends, kept thousands upon thousands of spectators entertained and proved a crucial source of bonding for countless local families. 

Four presidents of Bermuda Motocross Club – founder Robin Simmons, multiple champion Otis Ingham, long-serving advocate Ras Mykkal and first female president Arlene Simmons – reflected on the sport’s captivating history as they celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. 

The journey to acceptance, they said, has often been as bumpy as some of the tracks where they made their name. 

Mr Simmons recalled how it all started in 1972, when the authorities asked him to do something about bike racers risking life and limb – and putting motorists in danger – on the main road near Warwick Secondary School. 

“On summer evenings, that stretch in front of the school was the racing stretch,” Mr Simmons said. 

“The police were overwhelmed because there were so many, sometimes over 100 racers. 

“I was called upon, because people knew I liked cycles and racing, to intervene between the police and the cycle racers. 

“Government called me to a meeting and asked what could be done. They wanted those guys away from there. 

“I said what they need is a track. I said we have got to have somewhere to race.” 

Horseshoe Bay was used temporarily before an estate in Ferry Reach, St George’s, was selected as the venue for the first meeting. More than 3,000 people came out to watch. 

“They brought their blankets or something to sit on and a picnic, and took their spot along the trail,” Mr Simmons said. 

“The race went beautiful. It was a fantastic race. We had a community. We really gelled from the beginning.” 

An extremely popular pastime had been discovered – but Mr Simmons said the Government of the day insisted the venue switch to the more remote Coney Island. 

“We asked our members would they come out and help to make the track at Coney Island,” Mr Simmons said. 

“It was a Sunday morning. I said we don’t know how many people are going to come. After ten minutes of standing there waiting, I saw them come with picks, shovels and mallets. They came with their children and their wives. We cut out Coney Island by hand, all up the hill and down by the side. 

“It gave us so many joyous moments. That’s the one thing about it, to see the people coming together.” 

Meetings continued to attract thousands and traditions such as Boxing Day races became established. 

It moved to PHC in Warwick, where more than 3,000 people gathered for the first race, and eventually moved to its current location in St David’s. 

While motocross is exciting for spectators, it’s even more riveting for the participants. 

Mr Ingham, the son of legendary rider Bert Ingham, took part for 40 years. 

“Motocross meant everything,” he said. “That was life for lots of us. It was probably the love I had for riding a bike. Just something about the adrenalin that hit me when I turned the gas.” 

Mr Mykkal said: “Every lap, the track is different. It’s uneven. You can come off the bike in spectacular fashion, but 95 per cent of the time you can get back up.” 

Ms Simmons, the current president, attends races with her whole family; her grandson takes part. 

“In my time, motocross at Coney Island was a rite of passage,” she said. “I really want our community to know about motocross, not just about coming to the track and watching the race, but really knowing our history.” 

The post 50 Years of Thrills and Excitement appeared first on RG Magazines.

Home improvements were one of the most popular ways that people spent their time and money throughout the pandemic, with many wanting to create a more inviting and comfortable space after spending so much time at home.

“People started thinking, OK, we’re still stuck in Bermuda so let’s do over that bathroom and then they got more ambitious and thought let’s do the kitchen,” said Sacha Bearden, owner of Baptiste Ltd. “So a lot of the money that people were going to spend on vacation, it’s now ‘let’s spend it on these four walls’. It was definitely interesting seeing the evolution of home improvement.”

When Covid-19 first struck and the first lockdown lifted, Ms Bearden said sales in paint sky rocketed. “That’s one thing that everyone can do. You can paint a room yourself and it was an easy and socially distant project,” she said. Eventually people started getting more ambitious and new paint turned into replacing window blinds to carpentry projects and then on to the more involved projects like upgrading bathrooms and kitchens. And while the minor updates can be done yourself, Ms Bearden warns that some projects need a qualified professional. “It’s a good idea to have an architect or designer that has qualifications as some things do need to get professionals involved,” she added. “It can save you money and stop you from potentially making a dangerous mistake.”

While home improvements have started to slow down as more people feel comfortable getting out and travelling, many have opted for complete home remodel. But Ms Bearden warned that the knock-on effects of the pandemic are still impacting supplies and the ability to get products in quickly – or even getting familiar brands at all. “Major suppliers did get squeezed by their US customers and then it was whatever supplies we could get our hands on,” explained Ms Bearden. The company found itself having to switch its brand of paint and had to search out a new window supplier along with other smaller changes to its inventory. “The biggest crunch for us was when our window supplier decided to focus on their US market and big box stores and dropped all their smaller stores and Baptiste got cut out.

“So we spent a lot of time looking for a new supplier, and I was getting a little bit nervous because we couldn’t be a window store and not sell windows. “And in the end, we were able to find a new product that worked for us. So we ended up coming out with an even better brand of windows.” Along with manufacturers making changes to regions they supply, production prices on supplies have also skyrocketed. Ms Bearden noted that planning ahead for a project is key. “Everyone has to think about their projects in advance because you used to be able to come in and get your stuff when you started the project,” she said. “If you find what you like take it as there’s no guarantee you’ll find it in a few weeks’ time.”

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