THE annual Children’s Mash Competition, now underway at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground, saw a huge turnout yesterday as the event entered its third day. Held under the theme, “Cultural folklore: Celebrating 44”, the contest began Monday with Dramatic Poetry and Calypso, and continued yesterday with Dance and Masquerade.

Yesterday’s event began with nursery-age schoolchildren from schools in Kabakaburi, Dartmouth, Riverstown, Lima, Reliance, Richmond and Anna Regina competing in Group Dance.
At this, Lima Nursery so thrilled the crowd with their colourful dance moves, they succeded in winning the hearts of the judges to award them First Place, thereby affording them the opportunity to represent the Region at the national leg of the competition in Georgetown.
Coming in second was Riverstown Nursery, while Richmond Nursery placed third.
In the 8 to 10 Category, Lake Mainstay Primary danced their way to the top of the pack, which feat makes them eligible to also represent the Cinderella County at the nationals.
Primary and Secondary Schools pupils were also in hot contention in the masquerade leg of the contest, and the beating of the masquerade drums and flouncing of students on stage so moved the audience they took to their feet as the atmosphere briefly changed into one of Christmas masquerading on the Public Road.
The competition concludes tomorrow at the same venue. ( Rajendra Prabhulall in Essequibo)