Place in Sidmouth for carnivals, says organiser after successful procession

CARNIVAL is alive and kicking in Sidmouth, with Saturday’s procession proving bigger than last year’s and with more donations given.

“It took 14 of us six hours on Sunday to count the 57,000 coins thrown or put into collecting tins,” said carnival organiser Terry Clarke, who thanked Sidmouth people for their generosity.

This year, the procession raised �2,749, some �184 more than last year, which Terry is delighted about. People filled collecting buckets and threw coins on to passing floats.

Terry said: “We didn’t have any hitches and the police were happy with what we did. I didn’t have any trouble with parked cars this year. The feedback so far has been very good, and we may have cracked the way of using the floats.

“People were happier because we had one of the large floats near the front, when usually we’ve gone for the queen’s floats.”

Sidmouth’s queen, Rosie Davis-Stokes and her princesses, Jasmine Doorman and Taylor Beavis, led the procession with Sidmouth fire engine and Sidmouth Lifeboat, while other royal floats were further back this year.

Following her was Diamonds Cheer Squad, Sidmouth’s own cheer-leading team and other majorette troupes from Lyme Regis, Seaton and Axminster, joined in the fun event. There were 18 walking entries and 22 floats, including the amazing Yee Ha Wild West float of Sid Vale Carnival Club, which won best in show and the Clarke Cup as well as the Balfour Cup for winning its class.

Sidmouth came up trumps among walking entries, with Sidmouth Youth Centre gaining a first for Clowning about in The Circus and Sidmouth Guides’ Alice in Wonderland, pipped Sidmouth Scouts’ A Knights Tale, to first place in the walking youth groups category.

“It was worth the hard work and it is nice to be able to sit down and think about it,” said Terry, who would like more people to volunteer to help organise next year’s procession. “I spoke to some people on Saturday who are interested in helping, so it is looking good for 2012.”

RESULTS

Class 1: Open Spectacular Floats: 1st Yee Ha, Sid Vale Carnival Club. Class 2: Youth Floats (Open): 1st Monarch of the Glen, South Brent CC; 2nd Big Fish, 1st Honiton Scouts; Class 3: Humorous (Open): 1st Bird is the Word, Nunsford Nutters CC; 2nd Obsession from a Western, Axminster Young Farmers; Class 5: Open Floats 30ft or Under: 1st Full of Eastern Promise, Budleigh Salterton CC; 2nd Game On, Fusion CC; 3rd Western Express, Ipplepen CC; 4th Rasputin, Muckslingers.

Class 6: Royalty (East Devon Queens): 1st Pearls of the Sea, Ottery St Mary; 2nd Hollywood, Seaton Carnival; 3rd Egyptian Queen, Colyton Carnival; 4th Honiton Petals, Honiton & District. Class 7: Royalty (Visiting Queens): 1st Egyptian Treasure, Teignmouth Carnival, 2nd Back in Time, Bovey Tracey CC; 3rd Harbertonford Queen, Harbertonford Carnival; 4th Grecian Garden, Topsham Town Fayre.

Class 8: Individual Walking Adult: 1st Jewel of the Sea, Jodie B Mitchell; 2nd Chess Queen, OZMA. Class 9: Individual Walking Youth: 1st A Pharaoh Surprise, Aiden Pearcey; 2nd Off With Their Heads, Excalibur; 3rd Super Mario, OZMA CC. Class 10: Pairs Walking: 1st Bloomin Marvellous, Batten-Stevens Family; 2nd Captain Jack & Squawk, Marchant Family; 3rd Bill & Ben, OZMA CC.

Class 11: Groups (Motorised Props): 1st SADS, SADS; Class 13: Groups Walking Youth: 1st Alice in Wonderland, Sidmouth Guides; 2nd A Knights Tale, Sidmouth Scouts; 3rd The St JV Green Army, Sidmouth Town JV. Class 14: Wheeled Non-Motorised: 1st The Circus, Sidmouth Youth Centre; 2nd Lighthouse Loonies, Phil Armour.