The spirit of carnival was blazing at the weekend as several individual clubs overcame hugely frustrating obstacles to wow the crowds in two towns.
Chard and Castle Cary were in party mood as dusk descended and the normally sober-suited transformed into glitzy rocky horror, glam rock and science fiction characters, with a sprinkling of fairy tales and dancing girls.
At Castle Cary, the latest in the three-county Wessex Grand Prix circuit, the elegant flappers of Hot Rock carnival club danced off with the top award as most entertaining float, and a sheaf of others.
Old stagers Cary Comedians lived up to their name by scooping the comic class, the special award for the most original interpretation of a theme for their entry, Plankers and the best local float prize. The carnival is in great heart and organisers are delighted with the number and quality of this year's entries.
Castle Cary Carnival results
Special awards: most entertaining float: Hot Rock CC, The Twenties. Best-dressed driver: Hot Rock CC, The Twenties; 2, Revellers CC, Cactus City. Most original interpretation of a theme on a float: Cary Comedians, Plankers. Float travelling furthest distance: Magnum CC, Robbery at Ye Old Casino. Best sound and lighting: Hot Rock; Most appropriate music: Just Georges CC, Everybody's Surfin. Best presented collection vehicle: F J Reeves. Most effective artwork: Allsorts CC, Jiggery. Best costumes on float, Hot Rock CC. Best-dressed collectors: Maureen and Sue, Shrek and Fiona. Most entertaining group of masqueraders: Arcadia CC, A Quest of Honour. Most entertaining individual masquerade: Natasha Shaw, Ice Kingdom. Best presented wheeled prop: Enspired CC, Spirit of the Hawk. Spectators Choice: Twiglets CC Brewer's Dray. Best local float: Cary Comedians; best visiting: Hot Rock CC; best masqueraders: Next Generation CC, Glowing Skies.
Tableau: 1, Magnum CC, Robbery at Ye Old Casino.
Feature: Revellers CC, Cactus City; 2, Hot Rock CC, The Twenties; 3, Quackers CC, Garden of Evil. Comic: 1, Cary Comedians Cc, Plankers; 2, Just Georges CC, Everybody's Surfin. Juvenile: 1, Kipling CC, Mexicano; 2, Allsorts JCC, Jiggery; 3, Little Devils CC, Dance Till You're Dead. Group of family or friends: 1, SG Families, Education Escape. Masqueraders: One or more 17 and under, open: 1, Natasha Shaw, Ice Kingdom; 2, Carina Haines, Upzndownz; 3, Izzy Wheeler, Storm Force to the Rescue. One or more 17 and under local: 1, The Penguins, Surfs Up. One walker open: 1, Roger Muspratt Hamilton, The Devil Wears Spider; 2, Alex Plummer, Truly Scrumptious; 3, David Graffham, Lumiere Tribute to Bob. Two or more walkers, open: 1, Arcadia CC, Quest of honour; 2, Razzamatazz, Cupcakes. Walkers with props: 1, Enspired CC, Spirit of the Hawk; 2, Mojo CC, Till Death Us Do Part/ Decorated trolley: 1, Next Generation CC, Glowing Skies; 2, Twiglets CC, Brewers Dray. Wheeled props local : 1, The Penguins, Surfs Up. One walker local, 1, Edward Harben, Castle Cary Happy Town Crier. Two or more walkers local: 1, Ditcheat Players, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves; 2, Maureen and Sue, Shrek and Fiona. Majorettes, 1, Sturminster Newton; 2, Ilchester Gems, 3, Venus Twirlstars.
