COLWYN Bay Cricket Club’s festival brought the crowds in their thousands to Penrhyn Avenue.
Five days of cricket was played in glorious sunshine, crowned by Glamorgan's first four day county championship victory of the season over Leicestershire.
On Sunday a packed house saw the Bay just lose by four runs in a cracking game Pro 40 overs game against Northamptonshire in a match producing 530 runs of which the Dragons Tom Maynard scored 104 with the quickest hundred by any Glamorgan batsman.
It was Glamorgan's new head of operations, Simon Lee’s first visit to the ground and he gave it a glowing report. He said: “This really is a brilliant ground with a great atmosphere, so welcoming with such friendly people who have worked so hard to make our visit a success.
“We had amazing weather throughout capped by our first win of the season - absolutely fantastic, the Glamorgan Cricket Club can only say a great thank you as we look forward to many happy returns,” he added.
A dramatic ninth wicket stand of 197 by Adam Shantry, a 100 and North Wales favourite, Robert Croft 120, on the third day, put the Welsh side on top with 566 runs in reply to the visitors 312. Glamorgan dismissed Leicester for 181 (Robert Croft and Dean Cosker took three wickets each) to record an innings and 72 run home victory.
The unlikely victory played against a supporting backdrop that makes Glamorgan's annual visit to Rhos on Sea such a great occasion.
The fair weather helped bring bumper crowds and the consequent benefits to Glamorgan and Colwyn Bay CC, were the just rewards for all those contributing to the occasion with Conwy Borough Council, Bay sponsors, the club officials, staff and members giving their time and energy to what is a major organisational feat for a voluntarily based organisation.
All went smoothly from the scorers in their box and their assistants on the small scoreboard keeping the crowd up to date, with food and drink dispensed from numerous outlets, litter picked and toilets cleaned as committee people fretted.
Their efforts ensured Colwyn Bay's reputation for staging major sporting events was kept and enhanced.