Minutes before the announcement of winners of the CB Pan Chicken Western Regional Eliminations, newcomer Watson, who assisted a friend in Kingston last year, was confident he would be a winner - and he was.

"A me brighten up back de day and bring out the sun after the likkle rain," he said with a grin. "Me sell off and de people say a me a get de trophy cause everybody a say me chicken taste good. But, even if we don't win, we don't lose cause CB give us a lot of tings we can gain off."

Watson, from St Ann, went home with gift baskets from sponsors, the parish champion trophy, a $30,000 cash prize from CB, as well as all the profits he gained from selling CB chicken at the event.

The other winners on Saturday included: Damion Bailey, runner-up from St Ann; Wendell Gayle with runner-up Donald Smith from Hanover; Tyrone Kenton and Lionel Lewis, Trelawny; Lesa Louden and Patrick Maxwell, St James; and rounding off the westerners, Annette Holt and Eanon Anderson from Westmoreland. Holt also walked away with the Grace Tomato Ketchup's 'Grace Ketch di Taste' competition.

But Saturday's event was far more than a cooking competition. While many attended to cheer on their favourite pan chicken men and women, for most it was an outing for the family. For the children especially, the day was 'pan-tabulous' with the National Kiddies Villages which featured free rides all day and face-painting clowns. Those without stage fright participated gleefully in modelling and dancing contests on stage while others posed for photos with mascots Tropicana Tropics props; CB, the giant chicken or Thrifty Bee, First Heritage Credit Union's mascot as well as took messy mouth photos after eating CB Pan Chicken drenched with Grace Tomato Ketchup.

A good event

Maxine Ackbersingh, who travelled with her family from Kingston, said the event was worth it. "I brought the children because summer is coming to an end and I realised we haven't done anything as a family. I figured this would have been a good event, and it was," she said.

Not to be outdone, the adults visited the various pan chicken competitors to find their own winners, as well as browsed and patronised other sponsors - Rainforest Seafoods, Copperwood Pork and Bad Dawg Sausages. This cart was Simon and his wife's (visitors from England) first stop upon arrival. Another group of American tourists flocked the pan chicken vendors for a taste of real Jamaican food.

Onstage, Courtney Campbell and comedian Elva kept the crowd in stitches, laughing at neighbours toothlessly devouring pan chicken as many won prizes, and meals, during onstage eating competitions.

Seemingly enjoying more than the children, adults watched in amazement as Turner the Magician released a live bird from a pan with pieces of newspaper and an egg. He also pulled money from pieces of tissue, a bird from a bag and bent a sword around a man's neck.

Still the highlight of the day would be the afternoon concert featuring gospel artiste Prodigal Son, as well as dancehall acts Bugle and Tanya Stephens who had the packed venue, including tourists, dancing and saluting to popular lyrics.

The CB Pan Chicken Championship continues on September 28, when the competition moves to the UDC car park in Portmore (across from the Portmore Mall), St Catherine, for the Eastern Regional Elimination. It then culminates on November 24, downtown Kingston for the biggest showdown yet, the grand finals cook-off.