The close competition that has been the mainstay of this year's Children's Mashramani Competition continued on Thursday at the National Park where the finals of the Dance and Masquerade competitions were held.

Presiding over the day's activities along with Bibi Khadir, Henry Rodney once again managed to energise the crowd and garner its support for most of the participants as well as the day's activities.

The competition at the National Park, which suitably accommodated the near-capacity audience, saw many outstanding performances, especially from St Agnes Primary, which managed to win in all four of categories it entered; Bartica Secondary, which also submitted exquisite performances and Bishops' High School which dominated the 14-17 dance competition.

Among the pleasant surprises of the competition was the unexpectedly large number of male participants who managed to perform just as skillfully as their female counterparts much to the delight of the appreciative audience.

The competition saw many winners and no losers, since most of the participants as well as the audience didn't care about the results but rather the entertainment value that the competition provided.

In the individual five to seven years category, St Agnes' Bianca Phillips claimed the top place followed by Watooka Day Primary's Alina Barnwell and St John the Baptist Primary's Severn Clarke. In the group competition, St Agnes prevailed again, second place went to Cornelia Ida Primary which was followed by CV Nunes Primary. The eight to ten years category, saw St Agnes' Shivaughn Minns secure the first position followed by Mackenzie Primary's Delyse February and Stewartville Primary's Karissa Singh. The group category saw St Agnes triumphant again, Watooka Day Primary in the number two spot followed by St John the Baptist Primary. In the 11-13 competition Bartica Secondary ruled the day securing the top position in both the individual and group competition. In the individual competition Clifford Douglas placed first followed by West Ruimveldt's Janesse Jordan and Rosignol Secondary's Cindy Sookdeo. While in the group category Bartica was followed by Mainstay Primary and ABC Academy. The 14-17 Dance competition saw Bishops' High School's Dacia Blackmore victorious in both the individual finals as well as in the group finals where she led her school to victory. The individual competition saw Bartica Secondary's Faye-Anne Semple take second place followed by Aurora Secondary's Shevon McLennan. The group category saw Cottonfield Secondary take second place followed by Bygeval Secondary.

In the Masquerade Competition, the five to seven individual display was won by Mackenzie Primary's Dominique Bobb, while the group display was won by Mackenzie Primary. The eight to ten competitions were won by Ian Alel in the individual category and Bel Air Primary in the group. The 11-17 category saw St Barnabas' Alta Poole victorious in the individual competition followed by St Andrew's Primary's Kwame Franklin. The group category on the other hand saw St Barnabas take second place, while St Andrew's secured the top place. In the 14-17 competition, Christianburg Secondary's Blaner Frank secured the win, while Mackenzie Primary came away with the win in the group category.

On Wednesday, the National Finals was declared open by Education Minister Dr Henry Jeffrey at the National Cultural Centre and the day was marked by high energy displays. Richard Ishmael Secondary proved to be the dominant contender and was the crowd pleaser.

The results of Wednesday's competition are as follows: In the 5-7 individual Physical Display Stella Maris' Ashlyn Bobb secured first place followed by Goed Fortuin Primary's Dino Orna and Watooka Primary's Tiffany Thompson. In the group display, Goed Fortuin secured first followed by Annandale Primary and Amelia's Ward Primary. In the 5-7 costume competition, Port Mourant secured first followed by Shanika Baird of St Anthony's Primary and Analine Simmons of Agatash Primary.

In the 8-10 individual physical display competition, Luanna Benjamin of Agatash Primary secured first place followed by West Ruimveldt's W.Obermuller and Goed Fortuin Primary's Jarrel Carrington. The group competition was won by Regma Primary, followed by Nismes Primary and Vryheid's Lust Primary. In the individual costume competition Enmore Primary student Alicia Vaughn's entry, Cell Phone took the first place, followed by Batavia Primary's Gleary Cox and All Saints Primary's Sade Clarke. In the group competition, St Ambrose Primary was first followed by Winfer Garden Primary and St Aloysius.

In the 11-13 individual physical display, Mackenzie High's Christine Isaacs secured the top position followed by Llewelyn Cyres and Tiffany DaSilva. In the group category, New Amsterdam Secondary placed first followed by Richard Ishmael and Bartica Secondary. Meanwhile in the pyramids category, Nismes primary secured another win followed by Christianburg Wismar Secondary and St Agnes primary. And in the costume competitions, Diamond Primary's Melissa Nimmereer placed first followed by Shakira Deen and the representative of Friends Primary, while Ketley Primary secured first in the group competition followed by Friends' Primary and Holy Name Primary.

And in the 14-17 categories, Dominique Cameron of Richard Ishmael continued her winning ways when she secured the first place in the individual physical display followed by Koyola Bartholemew and Rayon Boswick. In the group category Richard Ishmael, led again by Cameron, also secured the top spot followed by New Silver City Secondary and Bartica Secondary. And in the pyramid category Christianburg Wismar Secondary placed first followed by Queen's College and Bushlot Secondary. In the costume competitions, Mahdia Secondary won in the individual display followed by Richard Ishmael Secondary and the Sophia Special School. In the Group category, the Sophia Special School took the top position followed by Dolphin High and Belladrum Secondary.