RENEGADES Carnival Club (CC) have been crowned the winner of the 2024 overall stage champions at this year’s Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Concerts. 

The club, who are based at Bar Brunel, Penel Orlieu, took the prestigious top spot and won the prestigious White Hart Cup last night with their spectacular show Tainted Love, as the curtains closed for the final time on the ‘sold out’ two week long concert.

Renegades CC have a very successful record at the concerts in recent times, and this is the third time in the last six years they have taken the top spot, (excluding the Covid years).

Katie Whiting, Stage Captain and choreographer, of Renegades CC, was delighted with the club’s success, and said: “What a way to end the fortnight. As always, it is a privilege to share the stage with so many talented friends and its never taken for granted how high the standard of competition is.”

“This year brings together such a range of emotions, but our aim was always to make Mum, Sally our President, proud. I know how much she would have cherished this show and that means everything to us”.

The White Hart Cup is won by the gang or feature awarded the highest number of points through the carnival concert fortnight by the 9 judges.

Gremlins CC and Marketeers CC were overall joint stage runners up with their respective stage shows Magical Mystery Tour and Spirit of the Eagle. Wills CC were the highest placed tableau club and won the Sam Hooper Cup after coming eight overall with Imagination.

Gremlins CC also won the Millennium Cup for best stage setting and the Arthur Rainey Cup for best comic act, and Marketeers CC won the Les Manley Cup for most improved club and the Suffragettes Cup for best costume.

Sally Williams Dancers won the Starkey Cup for their show Just Another Day in Hollywood, while The Vixens were awarded the George Bown Cup for the best song, dance, musical or novelty act, and the Athletic Sports Cup for best vocal (2 or more).

Kizzy Maguire won the Judges Cup for best single vocalist, Alana Mees took the Bert Snook Rose Bowl for the best 17 and under front of curtain act, and Jake Godfrey from Gremlins CC won the Reg Dyer Cup for best personality.

Dave Croker, Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival President, added: “We have so much incredible talent in Bridgwater, and this year’s carnival concerts is testament to that. “Special thanks go to every single person who has been involved and who has supported the 2024 Bridgwater Carnival Concerts.”

He added: “This show has been truly amazing, and my congratulations go to the winners for their well-deserved success. “If the concerts are anything to go by, we are in for a real treat on carnival night and when the carnival comes to town on Saturday 2 November”.

All 3,600 tickets for the 12 performances at Bridgwater Town Hall were sold by the end of August, and this year’s concerts have been sponsored by FCS International Shipping Ltd, with MEH Alliance sponsoring the souvenir programmes, and Anderson and Wall sponsoring the front of curtain act auditions.

The 2025 Carnival Concerts take place between Monday, September 29 and Saturday, October 11.