Jockey Elton Parsons aka ‘Shadow’ bursting through the crowd to victory on ‘Bruce’, ahead of ‘Hey Boy’ with jockey Clifton Forbes at the carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on Friday, August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Easy win for Jeffrey Forbes on 'Ball' against Clifton Forbes on ‘Domino’. Photo: VINO

The married men, with Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL), as the anchor, fighting back after early trouble against the single men in tug-o-war. Photo: VINO

The single men getting the better of the married men at this point in tug-o-war action; however, the latter would rally to win. Photo: VINO

'Single men' under pressure in tug-o-war with married men at the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Lime & spoon race winners. Photo: VINO

BVI Princess 2019, E'ssense Hodge-Julian, left, with some of the winners of the lime and spoon race. Photo: VINO

Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Carvin Malone (AL), in blue shirt, inspects the rope ahead of the highly anticipated tug-o-war between married men and single men. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta on August 9, 2019. Photo: VINO

Some of the activities included bucket races, which saw participation from Deputy Speaker and At-Large Representative Hon Neville A. Smith and lime and spoon races while handing out medals were 2019 Princess, E’ssense Hodge-Julian and Miss BVI 2019, Bria A. Smith.

Married men overcome single men @ Tug-o-War

One of the highlights was the tug-o-war between married men and single men. The married men’s team included Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Carvin Malone (AL) while the single men’s team had the likes of promoter Stuart Donovan.

The married men, with Hon Malone as anchor, made light work of the single men in the first tussle. The second match-up saw the single men numbering one more than the married men and seemed keen on using the extra hands to their advantage. They had the married men ‘on the ropes’ but just like marriage entails never giving up even when the going gets tough, the married men held strong and fought back from the brink of defeat to pull the single men across.

Announcer Craig A. Lake aka ‘Push Pop’ then encouraged the single men to get married so they can be strengthened with good food from their wives.

Donkey races

Earlier in the day, patrons were treated to some donkey races and there were two more donkey races to close off the day’s cultural activities.

Persons then streamed out of the festival venue to catch the last two donkey races of the day. The donkeys were raring to get racing but they had to wait a while as the usual challenge of getting the road clear of vehicular traffic occurred.

In the penultimate race, Jeffery Forbes won on ‘Ball’ against Clifton Forbes on ‘Domino’.

In the final race, jockey Elton Parsons aka ‘Shadow’ shot to victory on ‘Bruce’, beating ‘Hey Boy’ with jockey Clifton Forbes.

According to Mr Clifton Forbes, rearing donkeys is a culture his family members have proudly kept and are always happy to bring out their donkeys for the races.

Festival last lap

Meanwhile, the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta is continuing with a 'traditional market day' and tonight's stage show, featuring Pure Mass Band, Adam O, Pumpa, Jah Cure and VIBE, will bring the curtains down on the 2019 Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival.