CARNIVAL: West End hits come to Ilminster

MUSICAL maestro Andrew Lloyd Webber would have been a proud man had he been among the crowds last night (Saturday, October 1, 2016) at Ilminster Carnival as two of his wonderful West End masterpieces stole the show.

While Starlight Express was the theme for Harlequin CC and its excellent cart entry Underground Express, it was another of Webber’s shows, Phantom of the Opera, which was the backdrop for Gemini CC and its Phantom tableau.

Harlequin and Gemini, Ilminster’s two leading Carnival clubs, scooped the majority of the awards at last night’s Carnival procession.

Despite rain before the procession, the Carnival itself went off relatively dry and the crowds came out to support the array of clubs, individual masqueraders, majorettes and Carnivalites.

PHOTO - TOP: A member of Harlequin CC with Underground Express.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Gemini CC and Phantom.

There was one hold-up during the procession, but that failed to dampen the enthusiasm of those taking part in the show.

Harlequin took awards for Best Dressed Driver, Best Routine and Best Local Float.

Gemini, who missed out on the opening parade of this year’s South Somerset Federation Carnival Circuit at Wellington the previous weekend, won Best Tableau Pose, Best Costume on a Float, Best Music on Local Float, Best Build-Up, Spirit of Carnival, and the Mayor’s Choice.

Another of Ilminster’s talented Carnival clubs, Xtreme, was not to be outdone and took home a clutch of awards.

The walking entry – dancing to the Alice Cooper’s rock ballad Poison – won Best Make-up in Procession, Best Costume on Foot, Best Local Walking Entry and Most Colourful Entry.

The feature and tableau classes were won by Harlequin and Gemini respectively, while One Plus One took the comic class with Under Construction.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Socca Samba with Friends CC.

South Brent beat off the challenge of Eclipse Juniors and South Petherton Scouts to win the youth section with Swinging 60s.

Mike Daniels with Sister Michael won the open class ahead of Generations with Texas and Zem CC with Step in Time.

Lucy Thomas with Kingdom claimed top honours in the adult single class ahead of Spirit CC and Judy Williams.

The juvenile single class was won by Jess CC with Suited and Booted ahead of Lorna Stephenson and Lilly Cumming, while the Dee Gees won the pairs category.

Scarletts CC won the group class with The 4 Elements, while Xtreme CC won the walking open category ahead of Poppe Inn.

The Old Moo Shed won the trade class, while Friends CC followed up their Ilminster Children’s Carnival success with Socca Samba by winning the non-federation children class.

The battle of the majorettes was won by Lyme Regis Majorettes with Karizma Majorettes second and Merriott Majorettes third.

PHOTO - RIGHT: A member of Xtreme CC and Poison.

Ilminster Majorettes were near the front of the procession which was led by the Meridian Corp of Drums, Ilminster Fire Service and an open top bus carrying the Mayor of Ilminster, Cllr Val Keitch, and guests including pupils from Greenfylde First School.

Ilminster Carnival 2016 Results: Feature: 1 Harlequin CC, Underground Express; 2 Eclipse CC, Loggers Yard. Tableau: 1 Gemini, Phantom. Comic: 1 One Plus One CC, Under Construction; 2 Harbourside CC, Welcome to My House. Youth: 1 South Brent CC, Swinging 60s; 2 Eclipse Juniors CC, You Arr a Pirate!; 3 South Petherton Scout Group, Flying Machines. Open: 1 Mike Daniels, Sister Michael; 2 Generations CC, Texas; 3 Zem CC, Step in Time.

Adult Single: 1 Lucy Thomas, Kingdom; 2 Spirit, Deco; 3 Judy Williams, Artic Queen. Juvenile Single: 1 Jess CC, Suited and Booted; 2 Lorna Stephenson, Flower Fusion; 3 Lilly Cumming, Age of the Dragon. Pairs: 1 Dee Gees, Well, Something is Better than Nothing; 2 A+A, Rex. Group: 1 Scarletts CC, The 4 Elements. Walking Open: 1 Xtreme CC, Poison; 2 Poppe Inn, Sumink Kinda Scooby Doooo.

Trade: 1 The Old Moo Shed. Non Federation Children: 1 Friends CC, Socca Samba. Majorettes: 1 Lyme Regis Majorettes; 2 Karizma Majorettes; 3 Merriott Majorettes.

Special Awards: Best Dressed Driver: Harlequin CC, Underground Express. Best Tableau Pose: Gemini CC, Phantom. Best Make-up in Procession: Xtreme CC, Poison. Best Routine in Procession: Harlequin CC, Underground Express. Best Costume on Foot: Xtreme CC, Poison. Best Costume on a Float: Gemini CC, Phantom. Best Music on Local Float: Gemini CC, Phantom. Best Build-Up: Gemini CC, Phantom. Spirit of Carnival: Gemini CC, Phantom.

Best Local Walking: 1 Xtreme CC, Poison; 2 Friends CC, Socca Samba; 3 Lorna Stephenson, Flower Fusion. Best Local Float: 1 Harlequin CC, Underground Express; 2 Gemini CC, Phantom. 3 One Plus One, Under Construction.

Mayor’s Choice: Gemini CC, Phantom; Most Colourful Entry: Xtreme CC, Poison.

Best Dressed Shop Window: 1 Cottage Flowers; 2 Just Things.

More photos from Ilminster Carnival can be found on these links:

Gallery 1: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2016/10/02/ilminster-carnival-part-1-october-1-2016/ .

Gallery 2: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2016/10/02/ilminster-carnival-part-2-october-1-2016/ .

Gallery 3: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2016/10/02/ilminster-carnival-part-3-october-1-2016/ .

Gallery 4: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2016/10/02/ilminster-carnival-part-4-october-1-2016/ .

Gallery 5 – Harlequin CC: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2016/10/02/harlequin-cc-at-ilminster-carnival-october-1-2016/ .

Gallery 6 – Gemini CC: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2016/10/02/gemini-cc-at-ilminster-carnival-october-1-2016/ .

Tags:
Carnival.