Somerset has retained the Cup Match trophy in a historic victory for the West End — but for many the match is secondary to the experience.

Thousands of residents and visitors turned out to enjoy the event, which closed with ecstatic supporters cheering for Somerset Cricket Club.

After an ominously rainy week, blue skies welcomed spectators to the two-day extravaganza of cricket, Crown and Anchor and camaraderie.

The celebration of emancipation and the Island’s founding was filled with music, food, plenty of alcohol, laughter and smiling faces as cricket fans, and those new to the sport, sat back, relaxed and soaked up the carnival atmosphere.

“Cup Match is about family, friends and freedom. It’s about Bermuda coming together,” said Karen Young, of Paget, who was rooting for St George’s. “I love the carnival atmosphere.”

Crowds began flocking to the event early on Thursday morning, with the stands gradually filling up over the course of the day. It proved to be a scorcher, with temperatures hitting the mid to high 80s.

For St George’s Cricket Club president Neil Paynter, the good weather was a blessing after all the rain the Island had for days preceding the match.

“We’ve been working feverishly through the early hours of the morning to make sure the game gets going,” he said on Thursday.

Even though tarpaulins were still being fastened down early on Thursday, the venue was prepped and ready to go by the time the first ball was bowled. Mr Paynter thanked all of the grounds crew on and off the field for their hard work.

A few spectators expressed surprise that the venue was prepared in time, considering the torrential downpours.

Former United Bermuda Party leader Kim Swan, who was having “a great Cup Match”, said anyone who was at St George’s Cricket Club on the eve of the big game would not have thought the event could take place.

“We’re really lucky that the gods of Cup Match have decided to bring out the weather for us,” said Mike Cain, CEO of Aspen Bermuda, one of the event’s sponsors.

“We hope everyone is going to have a fantastic day and that St George’s are going to pull something fantastic out of the bag.”

Free hats and sunscreen were available courtesy of the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre’s SunSmart programme.

“Many Bermudians don’t realise that we have a higher skin cancer rate than the US,” said Azuree Williams, the SunSmart coordinator, who added that sponsorship by the St Baldrick’s Foundation meant they could give out the free items.

Ashley’s Lemonade proved to be a hit with spectators looking to cool down, with Cup Match-themed drinks on offer as well as a new frozen version of the young entrepreneur’s famous lemonade.

“It’s awesome — I’ve had a lot of fun. This is the fourth year of Cup Match that we’ve done,” said Ashley Stephens, who was kept busy by a stream of patrons.

She said the heat was good for business because she sold more lemonade, which was available in mango, strawberry, very berry, blue pineapple, limeade and traditional flavours.

Gina Thompson has been a familiar face at Cup Match “come rain or shine” for 15 years and her stall, Sniggle’s Face & Body Painting, offered creative touches to those who wanted to take their Cup Match-themed outfits a step further.

Glitter, henna and airbrushing tattoos, face painting and red and blue hair dye were popular among the younger patrons who flocked to the stall.

Malcolm Simons, of Paget, was keeping cool by standing in the shade.

“It’s gorgeous — it’s just building up,” the ardent Somerset fan said.

Mr Simons said his grandfather, who was a St George’s selector, would take him and his brother to the game back when Somerset was the winning team.

That settled it for Mr Simons, who added: “I was always leaning towards Somerset.”

Grace Smith, who was born and raised in St George’s, was showing her friend Jackie Allen the ropes.

“It’s very colourful — I was trying to study the game,” said Ms Allen, from New York.

The duo, dressed head to toe in blue and blue, were eager to try their hand at a game of crown and anchor.

Cup Match would not be Cup Match without the popular dice game and the Crown and Anchor tent was steadily filling up before noon.

“This is what we do at Cup Match. We gamble some of that disposable income. It’s all good fun,” said Funtyme Entertainment’s Craig Tyrrell, one of the concession holders along with Cavon Steede.

By lunchtime the tent was heaving with people eager to try their luck at one of the twelve tables.

“I won $50 on the Crown and Anchor,” said a delighted Kathy Rodrigues, who was visiting the Island with her husband, Perry, and their grandchildren Steven, 15, and Faith, 10.

Resplendent in St George’s colours, the first-time visitors felt it only right to pick the East End team because they were staying in St George’s.

The event was also a first for Ty Foster, who was visiting with his father Lee Madeiros Foster, a Bermudian who has been living in the United States for about 40 years.

“I love it — It’s beautiful,” Ty said, adding that everyone had been very welcoming and “even the rivalry is friendly”.

Mr Foster said that he tried to return to Bermuda at this time of year but it was the first time his son had came along.

A newcomer to the Island, Elvira Llabres, was enjoying her first Cup Match after recently moving to Somerset.

Proudly supporting the West End team, the Spanish national said she was still trying to figure out the rules of the game, but was having fun.

John Faiella, of Southampton, was enjoying the game with his sister, Sue McCarty, and her family.

Ms McCarty, who was born in Somerset, was visiting from Berwyn, Pennsylvania.

“We come to Cup Match pretty often. I love it — I love the whole carnival atmosphere,” she said.

Mr Faiella, a firm Somerset supporter, added: “We always come out — often we have family down. It’s a fantastic event when it gets going. Now you almost get as many tourists down here as locals.”

There were plenty of food stalls for those wishing to grab a bite to eat.

At St David’s Seafood stall, a popular part of Cup Match for more than half a century, business was booming.

“One thing we can’t get enough of and that sells all the time is the shark hash — that’s our speciality,” co-owner Jonathan Lowe said.

For those wishing to indulge their sweet tooth, Allison Smith was running her confections stall for the second time at Cup Match.

“It started out great because the sun is out — everything after that is a plus,” she said. “I think everyone is going to enjoy themselves.”

Spirits were high among those working at the game.

“Cup Match means Bermuda spirit, Bermuda love, everything Bermuda,” said Neseyah Jones, of the Island Restaurant Group (IRG). “It’s my first time working Cup Match but I’m really enjoying it.”

“It seems like everybody is having a good time. There are no grumpy faces — everyone is smiling,” added Ladezz Cann, who was also catering the event with IRG.

• For more Cup Match pictures, see our photo galleries at the bottom of our home page.