Gremlins Carnival Club took the top award as the curtains closed on the 2018 Bridgwater Carnival Concerts.
With their performance Wasteland 3000 (Danger Zone) the Bridgwater club won the prestigious White Hart Cup, which is awarded to the gang and feature gaining the highest number of points throughout the concert fortnight. This is the second time in five years that the club, who are based at Bar 27 in St Mary Street, have won the top prize at the annual concerts. The winning club also took the Millennium Cup for best stage setting.
Andrew McLean, chairman for Gremlins CC, was delighted with the club’s success. He said: “The club are absolutely overwhelmed with being awarded first at this year’s carnival concerts, and this result marks ten years in the top two on stage for the club.”
“On behalf of the carnival club, I would also like to congratulate all of the other clubs and acts on their amazing performances over the fortnight.”
Ramblers CC were overall runners up with Barnum’s Travelling Show and last year’s winners Renegades CC came third with Festival of Lights. Wills CC were the highest placed tableau club and won the Sam Hooper Cup after coming 8th overall with The American Civil War.
In other results, Vagabonds CC won the Suffragettes Cup for best costume, and also shared the Les Manley Cup for most improved club with YMCA CC. The Sally Williams Dancers won the Starkey Cup for their show Night in a Museum, while Viva La Diva were awarded the George Bown Cup for the best song, dance, musical or novelty act.
It was a year to remember for Gremlins CC’s Brandon Filler who won the following four trophies for his rendition of A message from George III – the Arthur Rainey cup for best comic act, the Judges Cup for best single vocalist, the Reg Dyer Cup for best personality award, and the Bert Snook Rose Bowl for the best under 17 Act.
Away from the lights and music, it was also revealed that Ramblers CC have raised over £6,300 for Prostate Cancer UK with their I’m a Rambler get me out of here’ fundraising exploits during the two weeks of the carnival concerts. As well as arranging live trials throughout the town’s carnival pubs, fellow carnivalites were able to vote for the camp mates (club members) they most wanted to see take part in these trials.
Malcolm Cattle, president of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, added: “Firstly I would like to thank all of the clubs, dance troupes and front of curtain acts who have taken part in the 2018 Bridgwater Carnival Concerts and for providing such top class entertainment to our audiences, which have collectively topped 5,000 people over the fortnight. The entire cast has been a true credit to carnival and to the town of Bridgwater.
“I would also like to offer my sincere congratulations to Gremlins CC and all of the other winners for their success. In addition a special mention must go to Ramblers CC for their fundraising exploits and for raising so much money for Prostate Cancer UK.
See full results.
