WATERFORD was a sea of colour yesterday as crowds arrived in large numbers into the oldest city in the country for one of the biggest outdoor festivals in the land.

BRYAN Smart enjoyed a fine season in 2008 and he can hit the ground running with Captain Macarry in the William Hill January Sale Now On! Handicap at Southwell today.

WIN or lose, Waterford’s hurlers will be welcomed home by thousands on Monday evening after their first All-Ireland final appearance for 45 years.

AS FESTIVAL starts go, it doesn’t get much better, louder or more spectacular. Fog horns sounded, captain’s bells rang aloud and thousands of confetti-like blue and white shards of light plastic were catapulted into the air as Waterford marked a six-year wait for the official launch of the Tall Ships Race 2005.