NEWS RELEASE                                                                        23 January 2004

WESTERN CAPE COON CARNIVAL FINALS TO DETERMINE THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

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The ten top minstrel troupes representing both the Cape Community Minstrel Board and the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association will compete in the Western Cape Coon Carnival finals tomorrow, 24 January, at the Green Point Stadium. Gates will open at 11h00 and the show starts at exactly 14h00.

The five troupes representing the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association, who have made it through to the finals are - The Orients Community Entertainers; The Good Hope Entertainers; The Harare Entertainers, the Pick ‘n Pay Lentegeur Entertainers and the Pennsylvanians.

Representing the Cape Community Minstrel Board are the Hanover Superstars; the Bay Star Entertainers; the Young Riverside Roses; the Kewtown Community Entertainers and the Elsies River New Editions.

Amidst much excitement, these top troupes will vie for the coveted position of Champion of Champions, and will compete for this title in the following categories.

The Klopse Jol

English/Afrikaans combined

English/Afrikaans comic song

Group singing

Juvenile combined chorus

Juvenile Sentimenta

Head of the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association, Mr Melvin Matthews says “at this stage the excitement and tension is tangible and it’s an open question as to who will come out tops.”

Once the winning troupe has been selected and the fairy dust has settled on the winning shoulders, Capetonians can look forward to watching the very last of the Cape Town Minstrel “back marches” which will commence at 22h00 on the evening of 24 January. Starting in Rose street in the Bo-Kaap, the troupes will turn left into Wale street and wind their way down via Adderley street onto the Grand Parade.

This is your last chance to catch a glimpse of this annual extravaganza, so get down to the Green Point stadium or make your way to Wale street to catch this last parade!

E N D S

Issued by                     Rosemary Hare Public Relations cc

                                   P O Box 12521

                                  MILL STREET

                                   8010

On behalf of                  New World Productions

                                   P.O. Box 7506

                                   Roggebaai

                                   Cape Town

8012

For further information, please contact Rebecca Atherstone on

(021) 465-1166 or 072 2422685.at Rosemary Hare Public Relations

e-mail: rebecca@rosehare.co.za

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All Press Releases issued by Rosemary Hare Public Relations are available on the website.www.rosehare.co.za