The heat created in the gayelle by Rio Claro and Valiant Brothers stickmen proved too much on Tuesday, as they crushed their competitors in every bout at the National Stick Fighting competition semifinals.
While it was a night of total domination for those groups, it was almost shameful for the stickmen of Gran Couva, who were rolling on the ground, cowering from blows and being disarmed of their bois before a large crowd at Rienzi Complex, Couva.
After an hour-and-a- half-long delay for a late Talparo gayelle, firefighters initially threatened to shut down the event as there were not enough seats for spectators and the exits were being crowded. Scores of people, hoping to see the fights, left the complex dejectedly as they were turned back at the gate.
But minutes later, cheers erupted inside as bois men danced to the rhythm of the Cushe and Molome drummers while performing their ritual of warming their bois over a fire made from burning rum and camphor.
In the first contest of the night, Valiant Brothers’ Donald Lewis came up against Talparo’s Moses Ralph in a battle in which both fighters felt the pain of each other’s bois. But after the five-minute duel was over, the ringmasters judged that Lewis got the better of Ralph.
Hoping to avenge his father’s loss in the second bout, Talparo’s Evan Ralph didn’t last a minute against 2013 King of the Rock Oneil Odel, as he was cut in his face while trying to attack.
Odel is a favourite to retain the King of the Rock title after staying out of last year’s competition for spiritual reasons.
Completing a clean sweep for Valiant Brothers was Lewis’ diminutive brother Ronald, who dealt Talparo’s Sean Lange two blows to the neck.
In the second contest, defending champion, Rio Claro’s Costa Guy, had the crowd screaming as he knocked off a Gran Couva fighter’s bandana, leaving him rubbing his head.
However, Rio Claro finished the competition quite easily as veteran Selwyn John had onlookers ducking when he sent Moses Razack’s bois flying into the crowd. Razack refused to continue, drawing boos, even from supporters. They also failed to submit a fighter for the third bout.
Talparo recovery
Despite their first round loss, Talparo made it into the finals with Evan Ralph recovering from his earlier loss to beat a timid Ainsley Mohammed, who spent most of the bout avoiding contact. Mohammed’s poor showing went from ridicule to laughter from the crowd as a dog entered the gayelle, leading to jokes that, “the fight had gone to the dogs.”
Longdenville just had to win one game to advance to the finals and did so with Glen Turner Bridgelal used his size to advantage a smaller Rawle Ramroop of Gran Couva.
The four teams will compete for a grand prize of $30,000 next Tuesday at Skinner Park, San Fernando, which will also showcase the King of the Rock competition.
Chairman of the Regional Carnival Committee Israfill Ali said stick fighting remained popular as it brought a lot of excitement to people. He said although the competitors continue to come out of rural areas, people supported it anywhere the competitions were held. He said in the past, fighters had suffered severe injuries, but the rules have since changed to minimise that.