PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – A dynamic performance by Karene Asche at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Trinidad saw her dethroning Kurt Allen Sunday night (Mar. 6) to win her first National Senior Calypso Monarch crown.
The 26-year-old Asche won the competition from a field of 12 experienced calypsonians, including three past kings, singing ‘Be Careful What You Ask For’ and ‘Uncle Jack’.
Asche, who had competed at this level of competition on three other occasions, is also a three-time National Junior Calypso Monarch.
In the second place was Michael ‘Sugar Aloes’ Osuna, while Hollis ‘Chalkdust’ Liverpool and Devon Seales had to settle for third and fourth respectively.
The other contenders were positioned as follows - Dexter ‘Stinger’ Parsons, Kurt Allen, Brian London, Tameika Darius, Kizzy Ruiz, Joanne ‘Tigress’ Rowley, Weston ‘Cro Cro’ Rawlins and Rodney ‘Benjai’ Le Blanc.
The preliminaries saw a record of 450 participants and this year the two song rule was also back in effect as was done in the past.
Asche won herself the increased prize money of TT$2M.
