The judges observed, made their notes and marked their cards. At around midnight last night the news came through that it was the Gremlins Carnival Club who won the coveted Class 1 title with Lights, Camera, Action entry.

It was their take on the silver screen movies of the golden age of Hollywood that most impressed the judges with its medley of characters that ranged from Charlie Chaplin to King Kong.

But there were other spoils to share with Pentathlon, Huckyduck, Harlequin, the Marketeers, Newmarket, Marina Sydenham and Eclipse all bagging silverware for their display cases.

The masqueraders also captured the eyes of the judges with the Vagabonds Carnival Club picking up first in the adult large group section with The Parade of Ali, with the Xtreme CC in second and Wilfs CC bagging third spot with 2,000 Leagues Under The Sea.

In the junior group section of masqueraders it was a clear win for Crusaders with Happy Birthday while other masqueraders picking up top spot in their groups were Samvantra Juniors with Mexica, A & ACC as i Robot and Carina Haines and her Czarevna’s Glacial Odyssey. Well done to them all and well done to the many masqueraders who took part in what is a demanding night of walking and performing.

The crowds loved the Wurzels inspired Oh What A Beauty entry from Newmarket while up and coming Marina Sydenham Junior Carnival Club picked up top spot in the youth sector with Marina Ahoy ahead of Highbridge’s Hillview club with It’s a Cracker.

It was one of the most successful processions and evenings for the carnival helped in part by a professional marketing campaign to widen the appeal of the event outside of Bridgwater and by the weather Gods who blessed the evening with dry mild weather. And it was a credit to the hard work of those behind the event including Phil New, Linda Bullimore, Carrie-Anne New and Paul and Sam Archer as well as a long list of supporters who did their bit for the big night.

The Results Class 1 - Tableau Cart Open 1 Pentathlon CC, What Lies Beneath; 2 Huckyduck CC, Gatsby; 3 Gemini CC, Scott’s Terra Nova.

Class 3 - Feature Cart Open 1 Gremlins, Lights, Camera, Action; 2 Marketeers CC, Noah; 3 Harlequin CC, Fogg’s World Tour.

Class 5 - Comic Feature Cart: 1 Newmarket CC, Oh What a Beauty; 2 Cary Comedians CC, Carnival Queen; 3 2 R’s, Monster Mash.

Class 6 - Juvenile Cart 1 Marina Sydenham JCC, Marina Ahoy; 2 Hillview JCC, It’s a Cracker; 3 Clowns Party, Key Kids JCC; Espana, by our very own South Brent JCC were an excellent fourth.

Class 7 - Groups of Masqueraders Adult 1 Vagabonds CC, Parade of Ali; 2 Xtreme CC, Salute; 3 Wilfs CC, 2,000 Leagues Under The Sea.

Class 8 - Groups of Masqueraders Juvenile Crusaders, Happy Birthday.

Class 9 - Groups Masqueraders (three to five) 1 Smandy’s CC, Dia De Los Muertos; 2 Just Peachy CC, Maslenitsa; 3 Fantasy CC, Witches from the West.

Class 10 - Pairs 1 Samvantra Juniors, Mexica; 2 Dee Gees CC, scarecrow Rebellion; Cousins CC, Flying Saucers.

Class 11 – Single Masquerader Adult 1 A & ACC, I Robot; 2 Jacks CC/Simon Jackson, Ride to Rio; 3 Jeanette Plummer, The Tailor of Gloucester.

Class 12 – Single Masquerader Juvenile 1 Carina Haines, Czarevna’s Glacial Odyssey; 2 Izzy Wheeler, and Whoosh they were gone; 3 Lotty Wheeler, Robin Hood.

Class 13 - Towing Vehicle – Maureen Pearce Memorial Cup 1 Gremlins, Lights, Camera, Action; 2 Marketeers CC, Noah; 3 Harlequin CC, Fogg’s World Tour.

Class 14 – Vehicle Driver – Ralph Whittington Cup 1 Marketeers CC, Noah; 2 Pentathlon CC, What Lies Beneath; 3 Eclipse, Madagascar Europe’s Most Wanted; 3 Pentathlon, What Lies Beneath.

Class 15 – Entries with Disabilities 1 The Academy of Carnival, Sister Michael; 2 Chipmunks CC, Alvinn and the Chipmunks.

Class 16 – Trade Open – Royal Clarence Hotel Cup Great Dorset Steam Fair Class 17 – Anything Goes 1 Dancefit Academy, Join the Circus; 2 Bees, Into the Woods; 3 Not awarded.

Class 18 – Best Decorated Generator – Westonzoyland Cup Marketeers CC, Noah