Cushe Village reigned as Kings of the Gayelle on Thursday night as they took home the top prize of $30,000 in the annual islandwide stick-fighting competition.Spectators gathered at a gayelle set up at the Fun Splash Water Park in Debe to witness the "battle of the bois" as the best stick-fighters in the nation readied themselves for war.The Cushe fighters impressed the audience with their skills as they won the Champion of the Gayelle competition.Talparo gayelle came in second. They took home $18,000.The Moruga men from sixth Company Village were third with a prize of $12,000.Gran Couva gayelle won the fourth prize of $6,000.
For the second time, Anderson Marcano claimed the King of the Rock title in the competition, a test of speed and skill. He took home $15,000.National Carnival Commission (NCC) vice-chairman Don Sylvester brought greetings to the crowd and announced that a $20,000 grant would be awarded to Ainsworth Mohammed, who lost his left eye last year at a stick-fighting competition.Mohammed who is unable to compete was still present and has been involved with stick-fighting since recovering from his injuries.