HAS anyone seen our trophies?

That’s the question being posed by Weymouth Carnival organisers as they struggle to locate prizes handed out to past winners.

Cups, shields and plates, some dating from the 1950s, are traditionally presented to the best float entries in the carnival procession.

There are 11 categories, ranging from the best pub float to the most topical entry.

They were last presented when motorised floats appeared in the procession in 2007, the Round Table’s swansong year.

Fast forward to 2010 and the new carnival committee can only find two of the awards – those won by The Party Shop for an Antony and Cleopatra-themed float.

Procession organiser Shaun Hennessy is appealing for people to search high and low for the remaining trophies so they can be passed on to new winners at next Wednesday’s carnival.

Weymouth’s Rotary Clubs have taken over organising carnival from the Weymouth Community Volunteers and are bringing back floats to the procession.

Mr Hennessy said: “I’ve contacted as many of the past winners as I can and they believe the trophies were handed in.

“I don’t think they’re worth very much but they are special to Weymouth Carnival.

“I can arrange for new ones but it seems a shame that some of our old cups and shields appear to have been lost. Someone must know where they are. It may be they were handed round a group and are now gathering dust in a cupboard.”

Sue Follan of the Weymouth Community Volunteers confirmed that trophies were not passed on when the organisation co-ordinated carnival because it ran a float-free procession for two years.

The last time trophies were presented in 2007 The Party Shop won the Fusco Cup for best local trade float for the fourth time and the Dougal Plate for best crowd appeal.

Owner Jan O’Brien was instrumental in bringing the floats back to the carnival after launching a campaign.

She said: “I’m so excited about the carnival, I can hardly sleep.”

* If you have a carnival trophy call Shaun Hennessy on 07970 850068.