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'CHAMPAGNE' IS COMEBACK KING OF THE BAND

April 19, 2001 – William "Champagne" Chandler returned to competition Wednesday night in the King and Queen of the Band contest and resumed his winning ways, walking off with the title of 2001 king for the Elskoe and Associates Carnival troupe.
Dancing and sashaying in a sunbird costume of iridescent gold, red and black, Chandler, who had not competed for the last two years, edged out defending champion Darryl Donovan of the Infernos troupe, who had succeeded him in 1999 and retained the title last year.
Donovan, appearing as a lion in a glittering gold and black costume, secured the first runner-up title. Kasaun Battiste of the Jus Action troupe was also a crowd favorite as he portrayed a Bantu warrior dancing with the head of his enemy in hand.
In the Queen of the Band competition, Reisa Jackson of Jus Action was the winner. Portraying the ruler of an ancient African empire, she wowed the crowd of over 3,000 moving across the Lionel Roberts Stadium stage with her 16-foot high costume. First runner-up for the queen title was Charlene White-Hewitt of the Infernos, last year's winner. Second runner-up was Eleanor Joseph-Garcia of Elskoe and Associates.
In the Junior King and Queen competitions, the Sun Children troupe was a double winner. Tenese Lockhart of Sun Children, portraying an African fan dancer, retained her title from last year, while K-Shawn Dickerson secured the Junior King award.
Other junior competitors were Shamelle Farrington and Detroi Haliday for Fun Bunnies and Stephanie Brathwaite and Kory Davis for Class is Class Too.
Also vying in the adult competition were Sherry Boynes-Jackson and Urban Descartes, representing Hugga Bunch, and Shaneel Richards and Curtis Gilpin, representing the University of the Virgin Islands.
Master of ceremonies Irvin "Brownie" Brown announced the winners shortly after midnight. The evening's program began with Cultural Night festivities that featured performances by quadrille and modern dancers, mocko jumbies, the Infernos Showgirls and members of the Tropical Masqueraders. Milo's Kings provided the music throughout the evening.
Carnival 2001 festivities continue Thursday at 8 p.m. in the stadium with Latin Night, a new feature this year. Friday and Saturday night will bring the international calypso tent known formally as Calypso Revue I and II. Sunday's schedule consists of watersports activities in the St. Thomas harbor, coronation of the queen, prince and princess, and Pan-o-Rama at the stadium.
For further details on the full schedule of events, see the Source guide to Carnival 2001 at Community/Other stuff.

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