By Yasmin Popsecu

FN Reporter

The oldest settlement festival is looking forward to its 40th year in just a few weeks.

The 40th Annual McLeans Town Conch Cracking will take place on October 12, in the settlement that sits at the very eastern end of the Grand Bahama Island.

Trophies will be given out for the mens and ladies winners in the main competition which is the Conch Cracking, where men snd women compete to see who is the fastest to crack a shell and take the conch out.

But the day is not just for cracking conch as many other activities have been announced.

Of course the day will feature lots of Bahamian food and music, but also a beer drinking competition, rowing across a river competition, sucking bottle competition, and conch eating competition.

Donald Thomas Sr., vice president of the organizing committee, said this year promises to again be a lot of fun for the entire family.

Also this year, he said they will be honouring veteran champions Valery Tate, Sharon Tate, Vincent Bevans, Simon Thomas, and deceased Jeff Rolle.

Most of these persons, he said, are from East End.

The funds raised from the festival, he said, are being used to build up the community.

President of the committee is Ken Leadon who reminds all that last year's winner was John Reckley.

The festival, according to reports, began in 1972 by F. J. Morgan, an Englishman, and was slated to be held every Discover Day holiday.

He even wrote a song about it:

"There's a tiny lil settlement on Grand Bahama's Eastern End,

It's up a rocky road, round the Thomas Town bend,

Not many people live there,

It's very far you see,

On October 12, that's where everyone will be

Conch Cracking

Come crack conch with me

"On October 1972 there was such a race

You should've seen King Henry Carey trying to win

Becka was going well, den she stop and say,

I ain't cracking no more conch,

I loss my hatchet head.

Conch cracking,

Come crack conch with me.