The group took the Prix d’Honneur for the seventh time in the last eight years for their Oliver float, based on the musical of the same name, and designed by Steve Bouchard.
But joy for the winners came in stark contrast to despair for 2018 victors St Clement, whose entry to the arena was delayed until about 4pm, 90 minutes after Battle had commenced.
With judging having been rescheduled as a result of the weather, the St Clement float, Polar Paradise, was meant to have been judged at 11am, but the judges were delayed.
Eventually the judging was finished just after noon, but after being manoeuvred out of its storage location the float struck a tree en route to the arena.
There were tears and frustration among several members of the St Clement’s team, but everyone regrouped and there were loud cheers as the float, featuring an icy landscape of polar bears and penguins, made its delayed entrance.
St Peter claimed second prize, the Prix d’Exellence, for the Music Evolution float designed by musician Kevin Pallot, while first and second prize for floats utilising paper flowers were claimed by St Helier and St Saviour respectively.
The forecasters had predicted that the 2019 day parade would be the exception that proved the rule about it never raining on the Battle, but in the event the rain clouds largely swerved around St Aubin’s Bay, with only a few brief sprinkles to cool down the crowds on a muggy afternoon.
From Eddie the Eagle to Elton John, and from rocking dinosaurs to a revolving dodo, Battle 2019 was a feast of colour and noise, with thousands lining both sides of the Avenue.
There were loud cheers for Battle ambassador Danielle Noble-Devenney and her consort Emily Pallot, who waved until their arms ached, as did their junior counterparts Eloise Morel and Jasmine Jablonski. The Islanders were followed by two visiting ambassadors, Miss Queen Madeira – Andreia Garanito – and Miss Granville-sur-Mer, Solveig Postaire.
A number of former Miss Battles watched the action, including Maureen Rose (77), formerly Whittingham, who was 17 when she was accompanied by singer Frankie Vaughan at the 1959 Battle.
Among the 28 exhibitors were the Whiteside family making a farewell appearance after many years of float-building, with warm applause for their colourful Spirit of America exhibit.
Musical accompaniment was provided by the Band of the Island of Jersey and several other musical acts, while the parade closed with the crowds turning their attention to the skies and enjoying the aerobatic skills of AeroSPARX.
Organisers will hope that tonight’s Moonlight Parade will repeat the trick of dodging the worst of the weather, with another bleak forecast threatening to dampen the party mood. Gates to the arena are set to open at 7.30pm, with the parade commencing at 9pm and concluding with fireworks and a second appearance by AeroSPARX at 10.30pm.
More pictures in a 16-page Battle of Flowers supplement in Friday’s JEP
Pictures from the Battle of Flowers can be purchased from jerseyeveningpost.com/pictures.
