SOUTH SOMERSET NEWS: Gemini and Harlequin battle it out at Ilminster

THE Carnival powerhouses of Harlequin and Gemini once again went head-to-head last night (Saturday, October 4, 2014) on their home parade of Ilminster.

The two compelling, but very different, entries put forward by the two clubs wowed the crowds which thronged the town centre streets.

Despite an hour-long delay at the start of the procession due to vehicles blocking the route, thousands of people stayed on to watch the Carnival proceed through Ilminster.

There was dancing, singing, music and song throughout the show with Carnivalites showing once again an abundance of creativity and ingenuity.

But it was the Ilminster big two of Harlequin and Gemini who won the major accolades on the night.

Harlequin swashbuckled their way at the head of the Carnival with the sword-thrusting pirate-themed Tortuga, while the motionless Gemini tableau of Transformers The Cube had a chilling look at the future.

Both clubs shared the majority of the awards up for grabs, but it was Gemini who won the Challenge Cup and the best local float in the procession.

But it was not just about Gemini and Harlequin – as the Carnival had a lot more to offer beside the two showstopper clubs.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Swashbuckling members of Harlequin CC and their Tortuga entry  ahead of the Carnival.

PHOTO - RIGHT: The amazing Transformers The Cube tableau entry from Gemini CC.

Eclipse CC, of Chard, are growing in stature and they too had a pirate-themed entry with Dead Men Tell No Tales and it could be in the not too distant future that they could be looking to break-up the local Carnival dominance of Gemini and Harlequin.

The walking wonders of Xtreme CC once again had a colourful entry with Hear Me Roar, while the Carnival “veterans” of Cousins again won a number of awards for Wonderland Shuffle.

Ilminster Carnival results 2014: Feature – 1 Harlequin, Tortuga; 2 Eclipse, Dead Men Tell No Tales.

Tableau – 1 Gemini, Transformers The Cube; 2 Unicorn, Centenary of First World War.

Comic – 1 Nunsford Nutters, Formula Tubs; 2 One Plus One, Summit Nunny; 3 Harbourside, Stars Trekkin. Youth – 1 South Brent, TigerFalls; 2 Club 2000, El Nino; 3 K9, Spooks. Open – 1 Zem, Flash Bang Wallop; 2 Rascals, Rumble in the Jungle; 3 Generations, This Time Next Year. Adult Single – 1 Jacks CC, Aztec Artisan; 2 Andy Tizzard, Whiz Pop Bang Bang; 3 Spirit, Attraction. Juvenile Single – 1 Lily Cumming, Peacock; 2 Rio Welsh, Davy Jones Locker; 3 Lorna Stephenson, Catch a Dream. Pairs – 1 Dee Gees, Nordic Walkers; 2 A+A, Mr and Mrs; 3 Inferno, Double Tiki Trouble. Group – 1 Cousins, Wonderland Shuffle; 2 Friends, Let It Snow; 3 Kelly Leigh School of Dance, Heroes and Villains, Walking Open – 1 Extreme, Hear Me Roar. Trade – 1 Octagon Theatre, Jack and the Beanstalk; 2 Sam’s Funky Fun, Samy’s Funky Fun. Majorettes – 1 Chard Goldstars; 2 Merriott Majorettes; 3 Stardust Majorettes.

Best dressed driver – 1 Eclipse, Dead Men Tell No Tales. Best tableau pose – 1 Gemini, Transformers The Cube. Best make-up in procession – 1 Xtreme, Hear Me Roar. Best routine in procession – 1 Cousins, Wonderland Shuffle. Best costume on foot – 1 Xtreme, Hear Me Roar. Best costume on a float – 1 Harlequin, Tortuga. Best must in local float – 1 Gemini, Transformers The Cube. Best build-up – 1 Harlequin, Tortuga. Spirit of Carnival – 1 Harlequin, Tortuga. Best local walking – 1 Cousins, Wonderland Shuffle; 2 Xtreme, Hear Me Roar; 3 Lily Cumming, Peacock. Best local float – 1 Gemini, Transformers The Cube; 2 Harlequin, Tortuga; 3 One Plus One, Summit Nunny. Overall walking – 1 Cousins, Wonderland Shuffle. Challenge Cup – Gemini, Transformers The Cube. Best dressed shop window – 1 Fairtrade; Ilminster Home and Hardware.

PHOTO - ABOVE LEFT: Eclipse CC and Dead Men Tell No Tales.

PHOTO - ABOVE RIGHT: Extreme CC and Hear Me Roar.

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