IF you think you're a lean, mean, sandcastle-building machine come out and show you're stuff in a competition planned for the end of next month.

Organiser Nicky Gurret of the Institute of Bermuda Architects hopes that the eighth annual Bermuda Open Sandcastle Competition set for September 20 will be bigger and better than ever.

Mrs. Gurret said she decided to start a sand castle competition in Bermuda because similar competitions have been so popular in other countries.

"I got involved because I thought it was a good idea to do it in Bermuda," said Mrs. Gurret. "I think it is wonderful."

Mrs. Gurret said she always enters the competition, but she was embarrased when she won her category one year.

"I decided that wasn't on," she said. "I would never let that happen again. Now I always take myself out of the running."

Last year, Mrs. Gurret and a group of fellow architects created a whale out of sand. They used some pampas grass to show steam blowing from his head. Other entries ranged from a simple, heavy-set snow man, traditional castles, a dragon, and two construction workers taking a break behind a wall. Their hair was made from seaweed.

"A few architects take part," Mrs. Gurret said. "It is more like a broad base of people. Lots of families and children enter the competition."

There are several entry categories including families, children, teenagers and adults. Each team is allowed six people per entry.

"All sorts of people who have never built a sand castle enter the competition," said Mrs. Gurret. "It is really fun. Sometimes we get things that are topical. To remember September 11, someone did an American flag with a dove on it."

However, Mrs. Gurret admitted that the Bermuda beach sand does present some challenges.

"It is not really a clay soil," she said. "It is not very sticky. It is not very easy to do fine detail, and yet people manage to do it. The American Sand Castle Open takes place in San Diego, California, where there is much finer sand so you can do more detailing. But is surprising what people do in Bermuda." She said the trick is to keep Bermuda sand constantly moist, because it dries fast and does not hold water well. It is also important to get a big lump of sand in the middle of your lot to start with, and then chisel away at it throughout the competition.

"People bring big trash buckets or big wheel barrows and just pile up the sand," she said. "You can also bring some objects such as hats and seeds.

"Some people bring dye. You can even dye the sand. You have to be very careful though. Sometimes the dye gets everywhere. Some people bring materials like flora and seaweed. It is nice to use shells and seaweed and natural items around the beach."

Mrs. Gurret said this year Bermuda General Agency (BGA) was providing goodie baskets for all participants. The Marketplace would be providing drinks.

"Most people get a prize, but the better prizes are for first second and third," she said. "And we try to give all the children prizes. We are hoping it will be a bumper crop this year. The most entries we have ever had is 34. Hopefully, there is going to be more."

She said the competition was a really good day out for families. It will be held at Horseshoe Bay. Contestants will begin building at 12 noon and put down their spades at 4 p.m. sharp.

The entry fee is $10 in advance, and $25 on the day of the event. For entry forms or more information about the contest, call Mrs. Gurret at 297-7755 or fax her at 295-4100.