by YVETTE BEST

DE BIG SHOW and The Experience Calypso tents have landed the lion's share of places for Friday's Pic-O-De-Crop semi-finals at the gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex.

Each tent has four places, with Gabby, John King, Sheldon Hope and Pompey carrying the banner for the Ocean Park-based Big Show, which faced judgement for the first time. The St Gabriel's School-based Experience Tent, which has consistently got top picks in the past three years, will be represented by Chrystal Cummins-Beckles, Enobong, Rommel and De Original Clarke-Dan.

Romeo has had a successful return to the competition and will be one of three from Bacchanal Time fighting for a place at Kensington Oval. He will be joined by Kid Site and Classic.

Cave Shepherd All Stars got two picks with Adrian Clarke and De Announcer. Headliners has two places as well with Blood and Ishiaka McNeil. So too did The Kingdom Of The Super Gladiators with Lady Isha and Dré.

Mr Impact is the lone person from Trimart Hit Parade to make it through.

As was the case last year, 19 names were announced because of a tie for the last position. That meant that no reserve was named.

Corporate communications specialist at the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), Wayne Simmons, presented the lists of Pic-O-De-Crop semi-finalists and Party Monarch finalists at an unprecedented 11 o'clock last night, just three hours after the start of the final judging at Celebrity Calypso Tent.

NCF officials said the Party Monarch judging at the Yacht Club-based tent lasted about an hour.

Chief executive of the NCF, Vere Browne, attributed the early result to the "efficiency of the system" and cooperation of staff.

He added that they would be aiming at early results from here on in.

The release of the names came without any pomp, even though the number of cars parked at the NCF's West Terrace car park might have suggested otherwise.

Representatives from the United Artistes Of Barbados, the Barbados Association Of Tent Managers and The Alliance were on hand, but no artistes or managers, as is normally the case.

Semi-finalists are asked to be at the NCF at 10 a.m. today, with their musical scores, to draw for positions. The draw for the Party Monarch Finals will be done at 10:45 a.m.