Geraldo Vieira Senior is mas King

As a designer for his son who usually plays his mas, Vieira has for many recent years always been the runner-up to Curtis Eustace in the king contest.

But this year, wearing his own design, he took top honours. Vieira came on-stage to the sounds of war — barked commands, horse neighs and marching boots, at the centre of a ball of bristling spears.

Also from the band Trini Revellers was second-placed Roland St George who portrayed "Gladiator Demetrius," a huge helmet from Ancient Greece. Wade Madray was third with "The Inner Man," a huge skull sculpture backed by a sheet of sequins with the face of a skull. Curtis Eustace placed a disappointing fourth. He had won both the preliminaries and the semi-finals, and was trying to win his eighth King of Carnival title. His "Out of d’ depths" portrayed a fierce sea-creature emerging from the sea in a huge splash of turqoise and purple. It was vast and dazzling.

Eustace is usually a winner because of his flawless performance on the night, but this year he seemed to have let off his pyrotechnics too soon. Unlike previous years, there was no single moment that was the climax of his presentation.

The contestant who overwhelmingly got the biggest cheers from the crowd was Earl Thompson’s "Jupiter, god of light and the sky," designed by former top masquerader Peter Samuel. The judges ranked him seventh.

He paced the stage to David Rudder’s "High Mas" effortlesslessly bearing his eagle costume on his back. He was almost showing off the portability of his costume which needed no hands to carry by continually waving his arms and evoking the crowd to clap along with him to the beat of Rudder’s song.

South King Leroy Prieto who portrayed "Horus the Avenger" also played a totally carried mas, but was placed ninth.

The results are: 1. Geraldo Vieira Senior (Might of Rome" 2. Roland St George "Gladiator Demetrius" 3. Wade Madray "Inner Man" 4. Curtis Eustace "Out of d’ depths" 5. Errol Phillip "Aztec Warrior" 6. Dave Lakhan "Demon Creature" 7. Earl Thompson "Jupiter" 8. Lionel Jagessar Junior "Howahkan" 9. Leroy Prieto "Horus" 10. Zinool Mohammed "Tribal god of the sky."

Queen of Carnival was won by Pamela Gordon portraying "The Winged Jewel of the Forest," a huge bird amid a spread of brilliant green foliage.

She was queen of the band Kingdom by Big Mike and Friends. Anra Bob was second with her red and gold costume "D Passion of d Red Crystal."

Anne-Marie Quammie-Alleyne from Poison placed third with her regal red and gold tapestry, "My love for the Carib Queen Valentina Medina." Fourth was Jenna-Marie Andre with "Miss Universe, Tantan’s Girl Child" a huge icon of Wendy Fitzwilliam wearing a red ribbon for AIDS-awareness. Andre danced the giantess in time to the beat of Alison Hinds’ "Roll it gal." It was stunning! Andre even had Wendy outstretch her arms as if to balance herself as she wined down low. Incredible!

Susan Low placed only seventh, but her outfit "The Comnique Supernova opera comique" had discs on the end of twisted arms bobbing up and down like the snake-heads of the Ancient Greek character Medusa.