At 2:27 this morning, 29-year-old Allan-John (AJ) Marsh was crowned Mr Gay Wellington at Imerst Nightclub. Hosted by Lady Trenyce, the pageant featured eight contestants who battled it out in open wear, club wear, swim wear and formal wear, in front of judges Laverty, TV personality Steven Oates, three time Academy Award winning costume designer James Acheson and the reigning Miss Drag Wellington Arabia. Marsh has been active on the Wellington gay scene for several years. He served as gay student group UniQ Co-President, worked with gay business networking group GAP, and appeared with his Civil Union partner Thomas in a promotional video for the NZ AIDS Foundation. A page of photos from the couple's 2005 Civil Union is still the most-viewed GayNZ.com page ever. Marsh takes over the crown held by James Laverty who has held the title since the last pageant in October 2005 at the now closed Pound nightclub. In second place was Alan the ballet dancer from Newcastle in Australia, and third was leatherboi Chris. Calum Bennachie was at the event, and describes the contestants' reactions to the fateful announcements: “When Chris's name was announced, he looked surprised. When Alan's name was announced he looked slightly disappointed. When AJ's name was announced, it was as if he wasn't listening, then absolute shock, joy and surprise when the ribbon was presented to him – although Thomas, AJ's husband, was grinning as if he had won. After all, he'd be fucking Mr Gay Wellington tonight. How many can say that?” Keep an eye on GayNZ over the next few days for pictures from the event and an interview with the new Mr Gay Wellington. In the meantime, a 2005 interview with Marsh, and his Civil Union Portrait are on the links below. Ref: GayNZ.com (m)