World Spoon Playing Championships
The World Spoon-Playing Championships 2006
In the Rafters Bar of The Hope Inn in Sedgefield on Saturday 9th September, a huge audience of spoon-playing fans was treated to a virtuoso performance from reigning Junior World Champion, 10 years old Ciaran Jasper, as she held on to her title in the face of a fierce challenge from the other finalists, Tim, Lee, Lily and Janet.
Backed by the talented Scratch Band's set piece rendition of 'I'll Tell Me Ma When I Get Home', Ciaran opened the junior competition with her well-rehearsed routine involving some new moves such as The Trimdon Triplet, The Fishburn Flick and The Sedgefield Shuffle.
In one of the tightest competitions in the history of the event, Ciaran overcame the rest of the field to win the World Title for the second year running by just half a point from her 12 years old brother, Tim.
The 2 judges were awarding points for rhythmic accuracy, technique and style and no doubt had a difficult job to separate the high-scoring entrants.
The Championship was being held in Sedgefield for the first time and formed part of the 2006 Trimdon Folk Festival, which had been transferred there, as it had outgrown its early roots.
Ciaran, a pupil in Y6 at St. William's RC Primary School, Trimdon had been practising hard for this event and said afterwards, 'I am absolutely delighted to have retained my title, though my brother, Tim, (in Y8 at Carmel RC College, Darlington) ran me very close with his energetic routine. I would really like to 'do a Brazil' next year by winning the trophy for a third time and being allowed to keep it.'
As well as the handsome trophy, a giant spoon mounted on a wooden plinth, Ciaran also pocketed a £10 cash prize. She can't wait for next year's competition to come around and the chance to defend her title once more.
World Junior Spoons Champion
On Saturday 11th September 2005, as part of the three day Trimdon Festival, The Bird In Hand pub played host to the Annual World Spoon-Playing Championships.
A packed house with standing room only, watched in awe as the competitors went through their paces in turn. Former Champion Bert Draycott had been coaching youngsters from the local schools in the art of spoon playing and they all did him proud.
The field of eight 'spoonlets' or 'teaspoons', as they are called, was not overawed by the noise of the enthusiastic supporters.
M.C. Stewart MacFarlane of Radio Cleveland, himself no stranger to the art of spoon-playing, was very impressed by the flair and rhythm on display, as each competitor embellished the backing music, provided by The Scratch Band, in their own particular ways.
The winner of this year's event was 9 years old Miss Ciaran Jasper of Sedgefield, a pupil of St. William's RC Primary School, Trimdon Village. She received a handsome plinth with a silver spoon mounted upon it, a certificate and a £10 W H Smith's voucher.
Ciaran intends to hold on to her title next year. She said afterwards, 'The competition was tough but I really enjoyed performing. I will be practising at home for next year's event and trying to incorporate some new, 'stirring' moves into my routine, such as The Fishburn Flick, The Trimdon Triplet and The Sedgefield Shake!'
