Ghost Ship sails away with top award

Thursday 11 August 2016

The Optomists’ float, 'Ghost Ship,' has taken the top prize – the Prix d’Honneur – at this year’s Battle of Flowers.

It wasn’t totally unexpected. It’s the fifth consecutive year the club have scooped the award.

But the float did break with tradition in a number of ways. Instead of using bright bold colours designer Steve Bouchard used just two - cream and grey - to create the spooky atmosphere. Animation aboard the float included smoking cannon, a mysteriously revolving wheel with no one at the helm, and illuminated lanterns. The pirates accompanying the float were also monochrome. 

The Prix d'Excellence went to St Clement with its float Go West. It took the wild west as its theme.

And the Grand Prix des Paroisses - the prize for the top parish float - went to St Saviour with its carnival theme.

There were almost thirty floats in this year's parade, and nine of the Island's parishes were represented.

The other 'stars' of the parade were Mr Battle, 25-year-old X-factor singing star Joe McElderry, and Miss Battle – Miss St Saviour – 20-year-old Aimee Le Brun, and her team of supporters - Battle Consort, Rebecca Amy, and 11-year-old Miss Junior Battle, Lucy-Anne Richford.

But, it's not over. The floats are back into Battle on Friday night- and have the chance to win more awards at the Moonlight Parade which starts at 21:00. Organisers have promised a spectacular end to the evening.