SHEPTON Mallet Carnival had another hugely successful year this year, as many flocked to the town to see it illuminated.

Crowds showed up in huge numbers for the latest parade, put on to entertain people from all over the county.

With over 100 entrants, Newmarket CC with Tour de Somerset won best comic feature, and Rubalo JCC with Birds of Paradise won best juvenile feature.

Huckyduck Carnival Club remain on course to win the County Cup trophy after their Brunel tableau secured a fifth successive win.

But after four wins in a row, Gremlins CC's Beatlemania was beaten into second place in the Open Feature class by just a single point.

Shepton Mallet Carnival winners (provisional):

Class 1 - Tableaux Mounted Open:

  1. Huckyduck CC – Brunel
  2. Pentathlon CC – Outlaws
  3. Wills CC – Roald Dahl’s Imagination
  4. King William CC – The Pop Up Library
  5. Oasis CC– America (4th of July)
  6. Centurion CC (Laughter Parade)

Class 3 - Feature Mounted (Open):

  1. Ramblers CC – Pinball
  2. Gremlins CC – Beatlemania
  3. Masqueraders CC – Step Right Up
  4. Renegades CC – The Manor
  5. Lime Kiln CC - Oktoberfest

Class 4: 

  1. Wick CC - Bourbon Street
  2. Globe CC - Driven by Precision
  3. SHAMBLES CC - The Siege
  4. Mendip Vale CC - Super Bowl 24
  5. Gorgons CC - Nevermore

Class 5 - Comic Feature: 

  1. Newmarket CC - Tour de Somerset
  2. Nunsford Nutters CC - Nee Naw
  3. Cary Comedians CC - Oh Crop!
  4. Luckington CC - Drag Tastic
  5. 2R's CC - Nelly

Class 6 - Juvenile Feature: 

  1. Rubalo Juvenile CC - Birds of Paradise
  2. Hillview J.C.C - Country Kidz
  3. Marina Sydenham J.C.C - Carnivale De Mardi Gras

Class 7 - Groups of Masqueraders (adult or mixed):

  1. Bridgwater Belles – Totally Bonkers
  2. Academy of Carnival – The Playgroup
  3. Smandy’s CC – Make Me An Offer

Class 8 – Groups of Masqueraders (Juvenile):

  1. Sue Hill Dance - Don't Stop Me Now
  2. Dragonfly leisure dance - Drop Dead Gorgeous
  3. Rhythm Fever – Avast Ye

Class 9 – Groups of Masqueraders Mixed:

  1. ABC CC – Beatlemania
  2. AOC Peach Family – Things That Go Bump
  3. Hot Rock CC - Hippie hippie shake

Class 10 – Pairs:

  1. 1. A&A CC – The Time Machine
  2. Dee Gees CC - Send in the Clowns
  3. Krodie CC - Pandora

Class 11 – Single Masquerader (Adult):

  1. Jacks CC - Ragtime
  2. Apollo CC – Sitnalta Fo Repeek
  3.  Jiggle Junior – Steampunk Pirate

Class 12 – Single Masquerader (Juvenile):

  1. 1. Little R – Silver Ball

Class 13 – Single or Pairs with wheeled props:

  1. Bubbles CC – Egyotopia

Class 14 - Towing Vehicle:

  1. Ramblers CC - Pinball
  2. Gremlins CC - Beatlemania
  3. Masqueraders CC - Step Right Up

Class 15: Vehicle Driver: 

  1. Renegades CC - The Manor

 

The next procession of the circuit is in Wells on Friday, before Glastonbury rounds off the circuit on Saturday.

There’s something magical about the Shepton Mallet Carnival, and this year, residents from Catherine House Care Home in Frome, were right there to enjoy it as well. 

For the Somerset care home’s family members, who were wrapped up and cosy with a hot dog in hand, all that was left to do was enjoy the entertainment provided by the flashy floats that drifted past.

Kim, an Administrator at Catherine House Care Home, shared that one of the residents couldn’t stop talking about the evening: “Today, Janet hasn’t stopped chatting about how much she enjoyed last night.

"Janet said, ‘The lights on one of the floats were so bright, the heat from them was keeping us warm, so I wasn’t cold!' 

"For Janet and the others, the evening wasn’t just about the lights and music, it was about feeling part of a community and sharing an amazing experience with many others."