Carnival glitterati shine for Colyton
Colyton Carnival 2007
Pictures by Terry Ife
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COLYTON has always been big on community spirit, so it’s no surprise that it embraces carnival with the kind of gusto that leaves many other, larger towns standing.
It was carnival spirit that gripped residents’ attention last Saturday, with the town’s annual procession attracting a small army of grassroots entries - the kind of spectacles that make carnival special.
Throngs of enthusiastic spectators added another dimension to the occasion.
The procession was a real crowd pleaser. From children barely out of the cradle to those with decades of carnival experience under their belts, Colyton pulled out all the stops to make the event a real community affair.
There’s no snobbery in carnival; it’s one of the few pastimes where the mighty and the humble line up, shoulder-to-shoulder and nobody looks out of place. Colyton is always a great example of this rare kind of all-embracing inclusion.
From Colyton WI, celebrating a milestone in its history, to youth groups, local organisations came out in force to support what is traditionally one of the biggest events on the parish’s annual calendar.
Colyton is ‘home’ to two of the biggest contenders on the East Devon circuit - the irrepressible Nunsford Nutters and the amazingly cheeky Nymphos.
The Nutters have fielded a pleasing, and original, entry this year in Granny Robix. The club is a credit to its members and Colyton. It took the prize for being the most entertaining entry, while on home turf last Saturday.
Carnival comedy
Nymphos, meanwhile, have taken carnival comedy into a whole new stratosphere.
A few years ago, they were hedging their bets with a massive rocket and men prancing about, wearing plastic boobs and blonde wigs.
Today, we are talking sophistication. The comic genius of Mental Oriental is in its audacity; brilliance, down to sheer, bare-faced cheek. You’ve got to see it to appreciate it.
Herald reporter Matthew Low, new to carnivals, almost suffered a detached retina after letting his gaze fall on one of the Nymphos’ slogans at Seaton. His eyeballs protruded from their sockets, he says, as they rushed to relay to his brain what they’d recorded.
If you want a similar, almost out-of-body experience don’t miss Axminster Carnival this coming Saturday. Look what’s written on an oriental roof at the front of Nymphos’ float! Nymphos took first in their class, best local entry and best music.
Colyton Brownies’ float, Alice’s Tea Party, was named Best Local Youth Entry and Best Entry from a Uniformed Organisation. A & A CC, of Kilmington, was Best Overall Walking entry with Crazy Horses.
There could only be one overall winner last weekend. Sid Vale’s all-singing, all-dancing and oh-so-colourful Brazilia notched up another victory, leaving the entry undefeated after two circuit outings.
The season, however, is still young. All eyes will be on Axminster when it is anticipated that Phoenix CC will unveil a beast of an entry.
Full results
Walking Group - Open: 1, Joseph & The Amazing Dreamcoat - Seaton Beavers; 2, Cartoon Super Heroes - Sid & Ottery FC.
Costume or Impersonation On Foot - Pairs: 1, Late for a Date - Jess & Rosa Batten-Stevens, Ottery St Mary; 2, You Can’t Catch Me - Lauren & Aidan Pearcy, Ottery St Mary; 3, It’s A Kind Of Magic - Excalibur CC, Topsham; 4, Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang - Swain CC, Exeter.
Costume or impersonation on foot - Single: 1, Crystal Chandelier - Jodie-Bea Mitchell, Kingsbridge; 2, Rio Rockellio - Roger Muspratt-Hamilton, Torquay; 3, Recycling Plant - Lyn Tutty, Dawlish; 4, Rhapsody in Blue - Emma Witton, Dawlish; 5, Buttons & Bows - Swain CC, Exeter.
Walking Group - Local: 1, Our 80 Years - Colyton WI; 2, Centenary Dragon - Colyton Scouts; 3, All Things Oriental - Colyton Cubs; 4, Caterpillars Go Wild - Colyton Caterpillars Pre-School Colyton; 5, Snow White - Colyton Theatre Group.
Decorated Hand Cart Or Cycle: 1, Crazy Horses - A & A CC, Kilmington; 2, Clowning Around - ZEM CC, Chard; 3, Ocean In Motion - Cameron Cooke, South Brent.
Recognised Youth Organ-isation Floats Under 18: 1, Alice’s Tea Party - 1st Colyton Brownies; 2, The Tale Of Two Cities -1st Colyton Guides.
Open Floats: 1, Brazilia - Sid Vale CC; 2, It’s Showtime - Axminster Young Farmers. Carnival Queen Floats: 1, Empress Of The Orient - Dawlish Carnival Committee; 2, Nautical Fantasy - Topsham Town Fayre; 3, The Bug Ball - Bovey Tracey; 4, Seaton’s Royal Oceana - Seaton Carnival Committee; 5, Swan’s Reflection - Torbay Carnival Committee.
Comic Floats: 1, Nymphos Go Mental Oriental - Nymphos CC; 2, Granny Robix - Nunsford Nutters CC.
Open Floats Maximum Decorated Length 30ft: 1, Degreased - Hillside Garage, Honiton; 2, Once Upon A Rhyme - Ayshberton Stannary CC; 3, Locomotion - Ottery St Mary VSU; 4, Caribbean Cascade - Budleigh Salterton Carnival Club; 5, Rhythm Of Life - Brimspear CC, Dawlish
Open Youth Floats Under 18: 1, Mystical Pegasus - South Brent Carnival Committee; 2, The Wurzels At Large - 1st Seaton Explorer Scouts; 3, Badgers Smears & Streaks Ltd - Axminster St John Badgers.
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• Colyton Football Club with 118.
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• Colyton Theatre Group with Snow White.
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