The Mayor of Douglas Councillor Ritchie McNicholl JP hosted a reception to present the awards for the Best-Dressed Boat and Best-Dressed Business Christmas competitions, the former organised by Douglas Development Partnership in collaboration with the North Quay Community Association, the latter by the Council’s community events sub-committee. Referring to the Best-Dressed Boat competition His Worship said the event had ‘literally lit up the harbour’ and created a welcome sense of community. In first place was Wild Gull, the winner, Andrew Cookson-Smith, receiving a voucher for a meal for two at Coasters. In second place was Pride of Mann, attracting a prize of a meal for two at The Bridge; a hamper from Deli at 35 went to third-place winner Emma IV; fourth prize, a bottle of champagne, was won by Lazy Bones and fifth prize, a bottle of wine, by Serenity. The occasion also provided the opportunity for Robin Middleton CBE, RNLI National Council member, former crew member and silver medal holder whose own festively decorated craft lit up the harbour last year, to present a cheque for ?100 to Douglas RNLI in recognition of the Institution’s work and also the creativity of those boat owners who had entered the competition. Turning to the Best-Dressed Business challenge, which invited businesses in the centre of Douglas to decorate their premises for Christmas, His Worship said that while some had not embraced the idea, others had made considerable effort. In closing he congratulated all those who had entered for taking time at the busiest trading period in the year to support the competition that was, he said, the ‘brainchild’ of the community events sub-committee. Joint first prize winners were hair salons Hot Gossip at 24 Church Street and Heatwave at 39 Buck Road, each winning a cheque for ?200. The second prize of ?100 went to Hamblin Recruitment at 35 Victoria Street and third prize, ?50, to Jabberwocky at 20 Duke Street. ENDS