Sheldon John scores Extempo hat-trick

SHELDON JOHN completed a hat-trick of wins when he was named Extempo Champion 2003 at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain Thursday night.

In the face-off final round of the contest, coming up against Black Sage (Phillip Murray), John, who was triumphant in 2001 and 2002, convincingly outscored his opponent in singing on the topic “You Can’t Beat Me In 2003”. For the large crowd, however, sight-impaired contestant Lingo was their choice to face John in the final round. When the names of the qualifiers were announced patrons made their feelings known with repeated vociferous shouts of “We want Lingo”.

Eight extempo artistes competed in pairs to vie for the championship through three rounds of competition. They were Contender, Zano, Hezekiah Joseph, Lady Africa, Gypsy, Lingo, Black Sage and Sheldon John. Gypsy, a former champion, made it to the semi-final round in which his opponent was John, and the topic selected was titled “A Soca Monarch Final Without SuperBlue”. But unlike previous occasions in which his prowess as an extempo artiste shone brightly, Gypsy failed in the four-verse challenge to match John’s clever responses in the “extempo war”.

The competition formed part of the night’s entertainment on a playbill titled “Sans Humanite,” presented by Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) and sponsored by Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Limited (TATIL) that featured the final of the National Limbo Championship and an Ole Mas Contest restricted to individuals and couples. In the Limbo final Kimmy Stoute Robinson withstood strong challenges from four competitors to snatch the title. Placing second was Aquista Frederick. Third place went to Sue Ellen St Louis, with Jamille Neptune taking fourth and Corey Herbert ending in fifth position.
The individuals category of the Ole Mas contest featured six contestants who showed very little creativity in their presentations. Gail Phillip appearing as “Rosie back in thong” was able to win the judges’ favour over “Look O.... .Ma secret” portrayed by Debra Charles, with “Kid napping all about TT” taking the third spot.

Vilbert Wheeler and Martin Balthazar had it their way in the couples category, being the only competitor, to take the prize for their clever portrayal of “Shin Lee can’t keep The lid on crime.” Guest artistes appearing on the programme were Regeneration Now and Black Prince. Providing musical accompaniment for the extempo finalists was the Syl Dopson Orchestra, while Relator appeared in the role of Singing MC, assisted by Mervyn Telfer.