HUNDREDS of people turned out in force to support the Dorchester Skate Jam event despite poor weather conditions.

The annual event offered a wealth of adrenaline-pumping activities to mark the anniversary of the county town skate park’s opening in 2009.

Saturday’s official competition was rained off but riders on skateboards and BMX bikes still put on a dramatic display of jumps and tricks.

Spectators and participants were also kept entertained with a slackline balancing activity brought by Maverick Skateparks, a crazy cycle circus, a climbing wall, Parkour free running, stock car graffiti and refreshment stands.

Volunteer DJs provided a soundtrack to the entertainment, the district council brought its action van to the event, Monster Trucks provided promotional energy drinks and the county council challenged visitors with its 50-50 car.

Dorchester Skate Park committee member and district council community worker Emma Scott said: “We were very heavily rained on first thing but we still had all the activities running and we were thrilled by how well supported it was.

“There must have been about 500 people throughout the day.

“The skate park committee is made up of lots of volunteers and we had about 30 young people volunteering here, helping as stewards, doing face painting and all sorts.

“Entertainment included Parkour free running, a crazy cycle circus with a lot of very oddly built bikes and penny-farthings, which were fun to ride around on.

“We had the voluntary group the Bridport Bandits bring a couple of their stock cars and local community artists did a graffiti painting to decorate the cars, which looked fantastic.

She added: “We also had a climbing wall, the West Dorset action van, the Monster Trucks team came and gave out lots of Monster drinks, we had the Dorset County Council’s 50-50 car which has a lot of things wrong with it and people are challenged to spot all the things that stop it being road legal.

“Throughout the day we had fantastic DJing, music playing all day.

“The event was made possible thanks to sponsorship from the Brewery Square development and Richard Moorehead and Laing chartered surveyors – who also helped when we originally built the skate park.

“Dorchester Rotary Club and the Casterbridge Rotary Club also sponsored the event, along with the West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) group and Dorchester Town Council.”

The Dorchester Skate Jam competition, which was postponed due to the wet conditions, is due to be rescheduled in July.

Two lots of £200 cash prizes will be up for grabs thanks to the support from sponsor Maverick and Monster Trucks.

There are lots more prizes including stickers, T-shirts and a BMX bike.

Search for Dorchester Skatepark on Facebook.com