Carnival spirit shines through on rain-lashed procession night

THE indomitable spirit of carnival shone through brightly on a rain- lashed procession night at Axminster on Saturday.

Cold and wet they may have been, but the entries battled on bravely to complete the route with a smile on their faces - cheered on by crowds equally determined not to let the weather spoil the town’s big night.

And although takings were understandably down organisers were still pleased with the final result of over �1,273.

There was special praise for the walking entrants who maintained a remarkably high standard despite the conditions.

A carnival spokesman told The Herald: “We were extremely pleased to have a lot of young people taking part in the carnival this year. The Majorettes were true professionals - how they marched and twirled their batons. Even the very small ones kept up and managed to smile.

“Karizma Majorettes had new costumes and wore them for the first time on Saturday. The girls looked extremely pretty but the rain didn’t do their costumes any good. This was a great pity because they cost around �5,000.

“We would like to say a big thank to everyone who took part in the procession, judges, marshalls and the general public for turning out on a very wet Saturday night. Well done Axminster for making carnival night a great success.

“We counted the very wet money on Sunday and were pleased what we managed to raise. Although this is down on last year it is very good considering the weather and economic situation – thanks to all who donated.

Majorettes taking part included Honiton Twirlstar, Fire and Ice (Seaton), Chard, Lyme Regis and Karizma

RESULTS:

Cup winners:

Beviss and Beckingsale Cup for best entry in the procession: Bird is the Word – Nunsford Nutters CC.

President Cup – presented by John Jeffery for best walking group also The Tigers Carnival Club Cup for best costumes: Auto-Matik – A and A CC.

Kilmington Players Challenge Cup for best entry by a dramatic or operatic s - Annie Get your Gun, Axminster Operatic Society.

Axminster Carpets Social and Welfare Club Challenge Cup for best music in- : Rasputin, Mucksligers CC.

Class winners:

Fancy dress individual, junior: 1, Off with their Heads, Lucy Thomas; 2, Super Mario, Ozma CC; 3, Pharaoh Surprise, Aidan Pearcy; 4, Mini Babushka, Jaclyne Dawe. Fancy dress, individual, adult: 1 Auto Matik, A and ACC; 2, Jewel of the Sea JB CC; 3, Chess Queen, Ozma CC.

Fancy dress, pairs: 1, Bill and Ben, Ozma CC; 2, Babushka, Cousins CC; 3, Bloomin Marvellous, Batten: Stevens family; 4, Ruffle your Feathers, Spirit CC. Decorated Hand Cart: 1, Lighthouse Loonies, P Armour.

Decorated umbrella, individual under 14 Years: 1, All Things Pretty, Caitlin Harris; 2, Willow Voysey, E Voysey; 3, Kelly: Anne and Jade, J Smith.

Walking Group: 1, Carnivale De Venuzia, Zem CC; 2, Harvet Time/Scarecrows, Membury Primary School; 3, Annie Get Your Gun, Axminster Operatic Society.

Visiting carnival queens (East Devon circuit towns only): 1, Egyptian Queen, Colyton Carnival; 2, Pearl of the Sea, Ottery St Mary CC; 3, Hollywood, Seaton Carnival; 4, Honiton Pearl, Honiton Carnival.

Visiting Carnival Queens (open): 1, Egyptian Treasurers, Teignmouth Carnival; 2, Grecian Garden, Topsham Town Fayre; 3, Back in Time, Bovey Tracey Carnival; 4, Masquerade, Totnes Carnival.

Open Class (30 ft and under): 1, Game On, Fusion CC; 2, Western Express, Ipplepen CC; 3, Rasputin, Muckslingers CC; 4, Full of Eastern Promise, Budleigh Salterton CC.

Open youth class presented and manned by persons under 17 years of age: 1, Don’t Stop Believin, Rascals JCC; 2, Monarch of the Glen, South Brent CC; 3, Nellie the Elephant, Colyton Caterpillars; 4, Rainbow Bugs, Rainbow Playgroup. Local class (any theme) entered from the parish of Axminster: 1, Obsession from a Western, Axminster Your Farmers; 2, Bottom of the Garden, Chloe’s Carnival Club; 3, Ford Car, Castle Garage; 4, Happy Birthday – Axminster Online.Com, Axminster Chamber of Commerce.

Open Class: 1, Yee Ha, Sidvale CC. Humorous: 1, Bird is the Word, Nunsford Nutters CC.

Axminster carnival committee has thanked town crier Nick Goodwin, Axminster Bike and Trike Club, Axminster Fire Service, Axminster St John Ambulance, The Dorset Youth Marching Band. and Axminster Rotary Club for their support with the marshalling.

Photo gallery to follow shortly.