Hat-trick for Renegades

Posted By: News
Date: Monday, 16 February 2004, at 9:56 a.m.

By Shirvan Williams, Trinidad Guardian

BP Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra won the National Junior Panorama 2004 Senior Conventional Band title yesterday for the third year in a row.

The final round of the competition, which is in its 29th year, was held at Queen's Park Savannah, and

BP achieved the hat-trick with 457 points.

The youngsters held the audience spellbound throughout their rendition of "War 2004," a composition by calypsonian de Fosto.They beat out 18 other junior bands to retain the title.

Drill master Everald "Redman" Watson said it was a lot of hard work put out by the juniors.

"We started practising from January and our sessions were mainly done in the evenings."

Watson has been with the senior band for the last 30 years and is proud that the junior band won every time that they have entered.

"I am very elated. We never had a junior band and since we formed one and decided to enter competition we have never lost.

"This victory is an inspiration for other youth bands. Work hard and all the best will come to you."

The band had 70 members, the limit for Junior Panorama.

Two bands tied for second place-Success Stars Pan Sounds and San Juan Secondary Comprehensive, with 441 points.

Success Stars, which appeared last in the competition, played "Power to the Pan Man" by Marilyn Hunter.

San Juan Secondary Comprehensive put on a colourful display with dancers as they performed Shadow's "Whop Cocoyea."

Top artistes Maximus Dan, Iwer George and Lil Bit gave guest performances.

1st - BP Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra: 457 points.

2nd - Success Stars Pan Sounds and

San Juan Secondary Comprehensive:

441 points.

4th - Woodbrook Government Secondary School: 438 points.

5th - St Augustine Senior Comprehensive School: 435 points.

6th - Katzenjammers Youth: 430 points.

7th - St James Government School Dynamic Explosion: 427 points.

8th - San Fernando Comprehensive School: 423 points.

9th - Tropical Angel Harps Youth Steel Orchestra: 418 points.

10th - El Dorado Senior Comprehensive and El Dorado Secondary Combined: 417 points.

11th - St Francois Girls College: 407 points.

12th - Southern Marines Steelband Foundation: 405 points.

13th - Signal Hill Secondary Comprehensive Steel Orchestra: 403 points.

14th - Sangre Grande Junior Secondary School:401 points.

15th - Mt Hope Junior Secondary School: 399 points.

16th - Morvant Laventille Secondary School: 390 points.

17th - Arima Senior Comprehensive School:

370 points.

18th - St Charles High School and Associates: 345 points.