Jersey Battle of Flowers

Valhalla - Viking Sacrifice by the Optimists Club, winners in 2007 of the Prix d'Excellence, the Peter Styvesant Trophy, the Spectators' Award, Best Illuminated float over 25ft, and winner of Class 11

An advertisement for the 1913 Battle of Flowers details the various festivities

The Jersey Battle of Flowers is an annual carnival held in the Channel Island of Jersey in the second Thursday of August. The festival consists of music, funfairs, dancers, majorettes and a parade of flower floats alongside various street entertainers. It was inaugurated in 1902 to celebrate the Coronation of Edward VII. The largest attendance to date is thought to be that of 1969, when 60,000 people were present.^[1]

The major floats are usually produced by the parishes of Jersey. Miss Battle of Flowers, the overall winner of the Miss Parish contests, rides on her own specially made float. There was also formerly a Maid of Honour who rode with the Miss Battle but this has now been dropped. The tradition of having a Mr Battle to escort Miss Battle was in abeyance for a number of years, but Kyran Bracken revived the rôle in 2007, and 2008 saw Christopher Biggins occupying the role. It was then brought back again in 2011 with Gareth Gates as Mr battle.

The 'Battle' itself originally consisted of dismantling the floats to provide floral ammunition for a literal battle of flowers between participants and spectators, but this aspect has long been abandoned. Since 1989, a nighttime Moonlight Parade with the floats festooned in lights has been introduced. The Moonlight parade ends with a large fireworks display.

Prizes

Prizes are awarded in numerous categories, with their names in French, for floats of different sizes and types.

2008

Winners at the 2008 Battle included:^[2]

• Prix d'Honneur: The Optimists Club
• Prix d'Excellence: Saint Saviour
• Grand Prix des Paroisses: Trinity
• Grand Prix des Fleurs: Jersey Young Farmers Club
• Prix d'Honneur de Papier: Peter Heath and Friends
• Prix de Mérite: Friends of Galaad

2007

Teddy's Toytime by St Martin, 2007

Winners at the 2007 Battle included:^[3]

• Prix d'Honneur: St. Clement
• Prix d'Excellence: The Optimists Club
• Grand Prix des Paroisses: Trinity
• Grand Prix des Fleurs: Rob, Adrian and Friends
• Prix d'Honneur de Papier: Peter Heath and Friends
• Prix de Mérite: John Le Cornu Family and Friends

2006

A Gnome sits fishing from his toadstool on the Grouville Too Float, 2006

Winners at the 2006 Battle included:^[1]

• Prix d'Honneur: St. Clement
• Prix d'Excellence: The Optimists Club
• Grand Prix des Paroisses: Trinity
• Grand Prix des Fleurs: Mary Bidan and Friends
• Prix d'Honneur de Papier: Peter Heath and Friends
• Prix de Mérite: Grouville Too

2005

Winners at the 2005 Battle included:

• Prix d'Honneur: The Optimists Club
• Prix d'Excellence: St. Clement
• Grand Prix des Paroisses: Grouville
• Grand Prix des Fleurs: Mary Bidan and Friends
• Prix d'Honneur de Papier: Peter Heath Family and Friends
• Prix de Mérite: Optimists Juniors

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Battle of Flowers
2. ^ BBC: Optimists take top prize in 2008
3. ^ Jersey Evening Post 10 August 2007

External links

• Official Battle of Flowers website
• 2004 event results