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Born and raised in New Grant near Princes Town, O’Neil Odle carries his lineage into the gayelle every time he steps forward, stick in hand.

At 35, Odle is already a national champion, having captured the National Carnival Commission’s (NCC) King of the Rock stickfighting title on four occasions, alongside several regional victories.

So far this year, Odle won first prize at the NCC’s Welcome to the Gayelle competition at Debe Junction on January 10 and again in Moruga on January 3. With the final leg of the Welcome to the Gayelle carded for January 17 and the National stickfighting finals set for February 9, Odle is the man to beat.