The preliminary round of this year's Carnival Kings and Queens competition was marred by delays, with patrons having to endure an eight-hour show to see almost 100 masqueraders cross the stage at the Queen's Park Savannah. With the Queens competition taking almost five hours to complete, a large section of the already modest crowd at the Grand Stand had left by the time the kings began crossing the stage around 11.30 pm.
The delays seemed to be caused by unusually lengthy intervals between masqueraders' performances, coupled with multiple technical difficulties with the public announcement system. Despite the timing issues, patrons were still left mesmerised by the masqueraders' costumes, which used a kaleidescope of colours, building materials and design techniques. Of the 50 queens and 49 kings, 20 from each category were selected to move on to the semifinal round on Tuesday.
Veteran masquerader Wade Madray, who won the competition in 2011, topped this year's Kings' preliminary round with 423 points. Madray, in his costume Quars al Sahraa Desert Sting, which featured an enormous, intricately painted scorpion, illuminated by artificial torches, captivated the crowd as he danced acrosss the stage while mechanically controlling the animal's pincers. In second place was Fareid Carvalho, whose costume, What Lies Beneath, received the loudest round of applause on the night and earned him 421 points.
Reigning Carnival King Ted Eustace came in third with 413 points. Eustace's presentation, Monkey Know What Tree to Climb, consisted of two large primates dressed in colourful hats, climbing over an ants' nest and onto two oversized marijuana leaves. His older brother, nine-time Carnival King, Curtis, failed to impress the judges with his presentation, Zanzikil–Lord of Chaos, which featured a gigantic crimson serpent in bronze chains.
He was involved in a three-way tie with Ronald Blaize and Earl Beckles for fifth place, with each receiving 406 points. In the Queens competition, Tamika George's Refraction: A Phenomenon of Light placed first with 411 points. True to its name, George's costume, a clear crowd favourite, dazzled judges and patrons alike with its use of neon lights and colourful reflective foil which sparkled under the stage lights.
In second place was Laura Rampersad's African Drum Dancer from South-based Carnival band Ivan Kalicharan, who scored 407 points.Alendra Bailey, of D'Midas T&T, received one point less than Rampersad with her presentation Warrior of Fire: Rise of the Mystic Phoenix.Notably missing from this year's competition were reigning Carnival Queen Charrisse Bovell and King Gerard Weekes (tied with Ted Eustace), who both chose not to defend their titles.
Last year Bovell and Weekes represented veteran mas designer Brian MacFarlane, who said he would be taking a hiatus from Carnival after last year's competition.
RESULTS
KINGS
1. Quars Al Sahraa Desert Sting – Wade Madray – 423
2. What Lies Beneath – Fareid Carvalho – 421
3. Monkey Know What Tree to Climb – Ted Eustace – 413
4. Nagin Saphera – The Serpent Charmer – Ravi Lakhan – 407
5. De Tornado – Ronald Blaize – 406
6. Zanzikil, Lord of Chaos – Curtis Eustace – 406
7. Scorpion King – Earl Beckles – 406
8. After Earth – Glenn Dave Lakhan – 399
9. Adoni – Father of Love and Life – Keston Benthum – 387
10. Sweet Soca and Chutney – Marlon Rampersad – 384
11. The Visitor – Radcliffe Lucius Forrester – 382
12. The Begining of the Day in the Heart of the Forest – Aldric Bailey – 381
13. Madiba (The Heart of a Warrior) – Zinool Moahmmed – 380
14. Zeus: Father of Gods and Men – Brian Chin – 377
15. Madiba (Father of Africa) – Kevin Bledman – 373
16. Peseidon Comin' – Clyde Bascome – 370
17. Pyro The Fire Dragon – Jefferey Serrette – 368
18. So-Son-Dowa ( God of the Hunt and Protector of the Natives) – Lionel Jagessar Jr – 366
19. Shipwreck at Buccoo Reef – Balnarine Bennie – 365
20. Blue Devil in the River of Ritual and Rebellion – Patrick Roberts Jr – 358
QUEENS
1. Refraction: A Phenomenon of Light – Tamika George – 411
2. African Drum Dancer – Laura Rampersad – 407
3. Warrior of Fire:Rise of the Mystic Phoenix – Alendra Bailey – 406
4. High Noon on the Comanchero Sacred Grounds – Raevon Atherton – 401
5. Burrokeet Woman – Kay Mason – 394
6. Heat Fuh So – Kimberly Patterson Lewis – 393
7. Life Blood – Desiree Auguste – 391
8. Atira, The Totem Storyteller – Kerina Badal – 391
9. Hera, Bonds of Unity – Tracell Frederick – 390
10. Indeera (Mother of India) – Denesha Jennings – 388
11. Siren's Seduction – Liselle Frauenfelder – 386
12. Zamara, Mirage of the Oasis – Peola Marchan – 382
13. We Beat Pan Music – Gloria Dallsingh – 381
14. Golda, The Galactic Warrior Queen – Wendy Mathew – 380
15. The Unusal Beauty – Cherry-Ann Patrice Valere – 380
16. Goolie Ki Rani, Queen of Gold – Roxanne Omalp – 377
17. Madame Baccahnal – Olivia Brown – 368
18. Diamonds are Forever – Dinisha Porter – 366
19. Botanical Beauty – Stacy-Ann Turpin – 363
20. Beauty Beneath the Ocean – Joan Mohammed – 363