Michelle DaCruz
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 20/02) - Once upon a time there were two gallant princes. One was young, and untested. Not fettered by experience, and wide-eyed with enthusiasm.

The other was wise, weathered and well-connected.

Bob begs to write his own cutline. "'Watch out ladies. Here comes Bob' is what I want printed under my picture.'" Kevin Gelding, below, issues the warning: Buy my tickets or I'll kick you. - Michelle DaCruz/NNSL photos

On a frigid Friday in March they were forced into a fierce battle for the coveted Kingly crown.

Young Prince Kevin Gedling, with his robust throbbing torso of brawn, would surely win the contest the townspeople wagered.

Prince Bob Ross, with his shrewd mind, and unrelenting bravado might begin the battle with vigour but could not, would not, sustain his force against the lively Gedling.

Well guess again. This time the older dude is a shoe-in. Hate to see the new kid bite it, but them's the breaks. Then again, who knows? Gedling might win.

OK, who am I kidding?

Apparently second place is cool with him, because Gedling is competing to have fun and meet people, he said. So far he has met a lot of Japanese tourists. "I've learned to say 'Please buy my Caribou Carnival ticket' in Japanese,'" Gedling laughed.

The five-month resident of Yellowknife, originally from British Columbia, has two jobs: one at the Visitors Centre and another at Raven Tours. Hence, the Japanese tourist angle.

And my, is he chivalrous.

"I bought a ticket from another contestant. One of the queens actually," he mused. "She was so shocked."

Well if he's snapping up tickets he could buy some from Ross. But, then again he probably doesn't have any left.

Ross, 42, married 16 years with two kids, rules his Boston Pizza fiefdom with a passion for customer satisfaction.

He draws on his Macdonald menthols, tugs at the gold hoop in his left ear and confesses to being a sucker for a challenge.

"I wasn't considering running, but my staff dared me. I don't back down from a dare," Ross cackled.

He is not competitive, and is just in the running to bring fun back to carnival he said; nevertheless, his main goal is to beat the queens in selling tickets.

Go figure. He is an enigma, wrapped in a riddle, yadda, yadda, you know the rest.

If Ross wins he promises to sport a pink dress and fishnet stockings.

Oh, and he refuses to shave his legs.

So if you want to see Bob in a dress, keep snapping up those tickets.