Crab, Callaloo and Freak stop Players clean sweep

It took a dish of crab and Callaloo and a Freak to stop KFC SVG Players mas band from making a clean sweep of the top honours at this year’s Junior Carnival competition.{{more}}

Jelani Niles of Guinness/Y Delima/Hitz FM 103.7 Blondie Bird & friends was adjudged the Junior King of Carnival with his portrayal of Crab and Callaloo, while Digicel Nelson Bloc’s Kenroy Francis’ portrayal of Freakazoid copped the second place.

KFC players didn’t leave empty handed in this section though. Keivi Howard rounded off the top three with his costume entitled The Last Samurai.

But in every other segment, the field of mas bands had to follow Players as the youngsters, watched by an appreciable audience, despite the late start, had their day in the sun, and reveled at the opportunity to parade across the stage at Carnival City in front of the judges.

In the 5-9 individual competition, Players romped home in first and second position with Shania Thompson’s portrayal of Antigua and Kistron Murray’s portrayal titled Trinidad and Tobago respectively.

Jayniah Prescott of Blondie Bird and Friends finished third in her costume dubbed Pelau.

The results were identical in the 10-15 age group: Nelson Bloc’s Rachel Francis’ display of the costume Rejuvenation could only manage third position as Players’ Tyrese Grant and Raphillia Bailey did the one-two with their costumes Vincy Heat and Bahamas, respectively.

With her portrayal of Haiti I’m Sorry, Reneisha Rose was crowned Junior Queen of Carnival.

She was followed by Ithabell Clouden of Aunt Jobe’s Market High Voltage Mas Production and Angelika Boyea of Nelson Bloc.

Their portrayals were entitled Somewhere in my Purple Garden and Genesis: The rebirth, respectively.

Players’ depiction of Saint Vincent y Las Granadines and Trinidad & Tobago were adjudged the top two junior sections, while Nelson Bloc’s Frontier Soldiers came in third.

Players also got the judges’ nod in the uptown judging with their overall carnival production Expo Zaragoza and were followed by Heineken Dragons with their Razzle/Dazzle: Through the eyes of a tourist and Nelson Bloc’s Future Shock.

In the end it was Players who were crowned band of the year, followed by Nelson Bloc and Blondie Bird and Friends, respectively. (KJ)