Local Members of Parliament, senior Welsh dignitaries and several of Mr Strzelecki’s NBS colleagues joined him for the opening ceremony. ‘Being close to the huge catchment area of the North West and West Midlands, the beautiful North Wales coastline is a hotbed of boating activity,’ said Mr Strzelecki, ‘and one which, if the impressive number of exhibitors at this inaugural show is anything to go by, now looks set to play an even greater part in the future prosperity of both the regional economy and the national boating industry.’

NBS is keen to support events like this through our ongoing Friends of the Show initiative which aims to promote the boating lifestyle and to help all UK marine companies, whether already established or in their early embryonic stages, to grow their businesses, he added.

With 115 stands representing more than 170 national and local companies, some exhibiting at a boat show for the very first time, the three day event went on to attract just over 11,000 visitors.

‘Visitor numbers were a heartening 10% more than we dared hope for,’ said a delighted Mr Sutcliffe, ‘our exhibitors told us their expectations were hugely exceeded. With many reports of quality sales being made, three quarters of them have already committed to attending next year’s show – which we’re now confident will continue to grow and grow.’

Mr Sutcliffe offered his thanks Paul Strzelecki and his colleagues, including immediate past NBS chairman Alan Morgan, who ‘gave tremendous help before and during the event, and for the generous NBS sponsorship of our Come and Try a Watersport activity feature that enabled over 1000 family members to enjoy a taste of boating on the lake’.