Island gets 'reality' race
Get set for some crazy goings-on this afternoon as Bermuda hosts its own version of the popular US TV game show The Amazing Race with teams scouring the Island to complete a variety of challenges and win prizes that include airline tickets.
It is only three months since the idea was first suggested by Merle Parfitt to friends at the "Netts" netball group, but such was the interest sparked the pilot race consisting of 20 teams was over-subscribed.
At 2 p.m. today the teams of two people will set off in cars from Bernard Park in Pembroke with a package of clues that will lead them across the Island and entail stopping to complete a number of fun challenges at checkpoints - just as happens in the TV show.
Should the event prove a success Mrs. Parfitt sees no reason why it can't be expanded to include even more teams next time.
"I'm a fan of the Amazing Race show and I have a dream that we can do it in Bermuda," she said, explaining the idea was first shared amongst friends at the netball group as a fun event for them to do but eventually grew to involve friends and family and corporate teams from PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Bank of Butterfield amongst others.
In order to avoid bottlenecks at the various challenge stages the teams will set off with different initial clues. It is expected the teams will take up to three hours to complete the event with a prize-list sponsored by C Travel, Digicel, The Market Place, Belmont, John Barritt and Son and Speciality Inn.
Mrs. Parfitt added: "This is a trial run and if it goes well the next one will also be a fundraiser for charity."
Committee member Evelyn James Barnett said: "The rules are that none of the challenges will be on private property, so the competitors will be parking in proper places and marshals will be out at the checkpoints.
"It is a very community-minded event. We believe Bermuda is awaiting fun activities that the whole family can join in, such as this."