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Jamboree lovers brave rainstorms
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Rain didnt keep die hard Jamboree fans from enjoying the show Saturday. - photo by Photo by Reed Vanderpool
The 42nd annual Smithville Fiddler's Jamboree and Crafts Festival is in the books, and the Grand Champion Fiddler and winner of the Berry C. Williams Memorial Award is John Boulware of Kimball, Tenn.The persistent rain Saturday did little to dampen the spirits of dedicated Jamboree fans.The Williams Award was decided Saturday night around 10:30 p.m., after the Grand Finale Fiddle-Off between Boulware, the best Junior Fiddler, and Senior Fiddle winner Billy Brewer of Lyles, Tenn.Meanwhile, Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro, Tenn., took the award for best fiddler in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners for the second year in a row.The beginners competition includes participants up to age 12 in seven categories of competition.Phillips was awarded the Grand Champion fiddler crown on Saturday, and also won the coveted James G. "Bobo" Driver Memorial Award, named for the man who started the youth competition during the 1980s.Phillips finished in the top three in all seven categories, winning the Dobro and Mandolin and Fiddle competition, taking second place in the guitar division, and finishing third place in Buck Dancing, Clogging, and Banjo.Phillips also garnered the Entertainer of the Year Award, which is bestowed upon the best overall instrumental entertainer entered in the dobro, mandolin, five-string banjo, and flat-top guitar competition.The awards for crafts were presented on Friday.Brenda Bieberdorf of Brenda's Fused Glass in Dallas, Georgia, took the Best of Show award for her fused art glass and flattened bottle clocks.David Sharp of David Sharp Woodcarving Studio in Smithville was awarded the Best Appalachian Craft Award for his hand-carved creations.Ashley Houston of Sacred Wilderness Batiks in Hayesville, North Carolina took home the Best Newcomer Award.Her work included hand-waxed, dyed batiks, bags and other clothing.Ron and Dorlea Grimsley of White Mountain Banjo in Phoenix, Arizona received the Best Display Award for their handmade banjos.In the long-distance award categories, Elena Muralla of the Philippines was awarded a United States flag for making the longest trip to attend the festival, while Michael Mishina of Seattle Washington and James Hayes of Memphis were given Tennessee State flags in recognition of their efforts.The flags were flown over the state capitol before going to the persons who traveled the farthest from within the state of Tennessee and from inside and outside the country.The awards were presented by State Sen. Mae Beavers and State Reps Terri Lynn Weaver and Mark Pody.The National Championship for Country Musician Beginners winners this year are as follows:•Fiddle: First Place-Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro; Second Place-Jaelee Roberts of Murfreesboro; and Third Place-Annabelle Watts of Phelps, Kentucky.•Buck Dancing: First Place-Brayden Chunn of Greenbrier; Second Place-Sarah Fisher of Smyrna; and Third Place-Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro.•Clogging: First Place-Gracie Parrish of Pleasantview, Second Place-Brayden Chunn of Greenbrier; and Third Place-Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro.•Dobro Guitar: First Place-Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro; Second Place-Jake Ramsey of Smithville, and Third Place-Brayden Chunn of Greenbrier.•Mandolin: First Place-Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro; Second Place-Anna Claire Stockoff of Brentwood; Third Place-Jaelee Roberts of Murfreesboro.•Five String Banjo: First Place-Trevor Holder of Ringgold, Georgia; Second Place-Axel Rico of Smithville; and Third Place-Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro.•Flat Top Guitar: First Place-Anna Claire Stockoff of Brentwood; Second Place-Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro; and Third Place-Jaelee Roberts of Murfreesboro.Winners on Saturday are as follows:•Junior Fiddlers (Ages 13-39): First Place-John Boulware of Kimball, Tennessee; Second Place-Tyler Andal of Whitehouse; and Third Place-Sarah Harris of Rockvale.•Junior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages up to 39): First Place-Devon Stewart of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Second Place-Jacob Campbell of Smithville; and Third Place-Hillary Bevels of Shelbyville.•Senior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages 40 & Over): First Place-Thomas Maupin of Murfreesboro; Second Place-Stanley Reece of Whitleyville; and Third Place-Tim Hartman of Nunnelly, Tennessee.•Senior Buck Dancing (Ages 40 & Over): First Place-Thomas Maupin of Murfreesboro; Second Place-Ruth Alpert of Santa Barbara, California; and Third Place-Tommy Scruggs of Hartsville.•Senior Clogging (Ages 40 & Over): First Place-Tammy Scruggs of Hartsville; Second Place-Darrin Stryker of Cookeville; and Third Place-Eileen Stewart of Pegram.•Bluegrass Banjo: First Place-Weston Stewart of Anderson, Alabama; Second Place-Joey Gibson of Manchester; and Third Place-Daniel Amick of Pleasantville.•Contest Fiddle (Neil Dudney Award): First Place-Tori Huntley of Loretto; Second Place-John Boulware of Kimball; and Third Place-Tyler Andal of Whitehouse.•Bluegrass Band: First Place-Foggy Junky Boys of Dyer, Tennessee; Second Place-A Step Ahead of Greenbrier; and Third Place-Tymeline of Cookeville.•Senior Fiddlers ( Ages 40 & Over): First Place-Billy Brewer of Lyles, Tennessee; Second Place-Paul Shell of Philadelphia, Tennessee; and Third Place-Perry Cooper of Knoxville.•Square Dancing: First Place-Rhythm-N-Motion of Cookeville; Second Place-Rocky Top Revue of Franklin; and Third Place-Harpeth River of Franklin.Winners in the 17 preliminary categories were:•Old Time Appalachian Folk Singing (Solo): First Place-Sierra Tomlin of Springfield; Second Place-Kelcy Tomlin of Springfield; and Third Place-Jennie Coppinger of McMinnville.•Flat Top Guitar: First Place-John Boulware of Kimball, Tennessee; Second Place-Rob Pearcy of Smyrna; and Third Place-Tyler Seller of Goodlettsville.•Junior Clogging (Ages 13-39); First Place-Gary Giles of Franklin; Second Place-Chris Stewart of Lebanon; and Third Place-Amanda Herron of Cookeville.•Junior Buck Dancing (Ages 13-39): First Place-Kody Hash of Knoxville; Second Place-Chris Stewart of Lebanon; and Third Place-Jamie Franklin of Knoxville.•Old Time Appalachian Folk singing (Duet, Trio, Quartet): First Place-Kurt and Corrina of Dyersburg; Second Place-Sierra and Kelcy Tomlin of Springfield; and Third Place-Megan and Courtney Williams of Unionville.•Dobro Guitar: First Place-Rob Pearcy of Smyrna; Second Place-Frannie Digiovanni of Greenbrier; and Third Place-Weston Stewart of Anderson, Alabama.•Mountain Dulcimer: First Place-Rob Pearcy of Smyrna; Second Place-Kurt Stephenson of Dyersburg; and Third Place-Daniel Amick of Pleasantville.•Hammer Dulcimer: First Place-Beth James of Newport (only entry).•Novelty Event: First Place-Jaelee Roberts of Murfreesboro; Second Place-Haint Hollow Hootenanny of Unionville; and Third Place-Hillary Bevels of Shelbyville.•Youth Square Dancing: First Place-Main Stage Explosion of Springfield; Second Place-Main Stage Fusion of Springfield; and Third Place-Jackson Hollow of Franklin.•Old Time Fiddle Band: First Place-Slim Chance of Smyrna; Second Place-Uncle Shuffelo and his Haint Hollow Hootenanny of Unionville; and Third Place- The Hogslop String Band of Nashville.•Autoharp: First Place-Kurt Stephenson of Dyersburg; Second Place-Bill Rothe of Estill Springs; and Third Place-Pamela Sanders of Sparta.•Gospel Singing (Solo): First Place-Sierra Tomlin of Springfield; Second Place-Jaelee Roberts of Murfreesboro; and Third Place-Samantha Lewis of Smithville•Country Harmonica: First Place-Tyler Mad Dog Martelli of Chattanooga; Second Place-Daniel Amick of Pleasantville; and Third Place- Rob Pearcy of Smyrna.•Old Time Banjo: First Place-Daniel Binkley of Nashville; Second Place-Rebekah Weiler of Marietta, Georgia; and Third Place- Daniel Rothwell of Smyrna.•Gospel Singing (Duet, Trio, & Quartet): First Place-Kurt and Corinna of Dyersburg; Second Place-Jaelee and Andrea Roberts of Murfreesboro; and Third Place-Sierra & Kelcy Tomlin of Springfield.•Mandolin: First Place-Daniel Amick of Pleasantville; Second Place- Tyler Andal of Whitehouse; and Third Place- John Boulware of Kimball.