The British Town Crier Championships, which take place in Bridlington on Saturday, 7 and Sunday, 8 August, will be the inaugural event at the new Spa Gardens Entertainment Space.

The colourful competition, organised and sponsored by East Yorkshire Events, will begin on Saturday with the criers and their escorts parading through the town at 10.30am in full authentic costume. They will then officially open the Spa Gardens entertainment programme at 11am.

The championship will then be decided as the criers go head-to-head in morning and afternoon heats. The competitors, who are travelling from all over the British Isles, will be tested on volume and clarity, diction and inflection and their ability to engage the audience.

The judges will also be looking for the best dressed crier, best dressed escort and best content of cry, including the traditional three oyez's and God save the Queen.
 
Hosting the championship is East Riding of Yorkshire town crier Michael Wood who, while not allowed to compete, will be kept busy ensuring the event runs smoothly and will also give an exhibition of his own skills, which will act as a benchmark for the judges.

He said: “I am especially proud that this event is being held in Bridlington for it is my place of birth. It’s time to bring out the bunting and balloons and do a bit of flag waving on behalf of the country’s best county, and in particular the Acapulco of the Northeast.”

Councillor Andy Burton, cabinet portfolio holder for economic development and regeneration for East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “East Riding of Yorkshire Council is delighted to be involved in such a unique and unusual occasion. With criers from across Britain amassing in Bridlington it will be memorable day for everyone and will be unlike anything the town has seen, or heard before.”

East Yorkshire Events manager Paul Roggeman, said: “We are excited to be hosting this event for the first time in East Yorkshire and really believe it will add a fantastic element of colour, drama and ceremony to the proceedings at the new Spa Gardens. “The event is not only a spectacle for visitors to enjoy but also for local residents of the East Riding to come along to and get involved in.”

The three themed cries will be on holidays, only in Britain, and a picnic. The theme of a picnic will take place at 11.30am on Sunday, 8 August at Sewerby Park, with the loudest crier being judged by sound measurement equipment company Cirrus Research.

James Tingay, group marketing manager of Cirrus Research, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the British Town Crier Championships in Bridlington, particularly as this is local to our head office. We’ll be using the very latest technology to find out just who is the loudest town crier, so we hope all of the competitors are up to the challenge.”

© Copyright 2010 by Bridlington Informer
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27 criers compete in championship

BUCKLED shoes, breeches and bells galore greeted visitors to Bridlington this weekend.

The town was hosting the British Town Crier Championships, which saw 27 entrants go head-to-head to try and take the crown.

Competitors travelled from all over Britain for the competition and were tested on volume and clarity, diction and inflection, as well as their ability to engage the audience.

Each handed in their cry at the beginning of the event and an accuracy judge made sure they stuck to it word for word.

The judges also looked for the best-dressed crier, bestdressed escort and best content of cry, including the traditional Three Oyez's and God Save The Queen.

Anthony Church, town crier for Banbury, Chipping Norton, Thame, Wallingford and Daventry, was competing along with wife and escort Susan.
He said: "I have been doing this for 20 years. I'm an ex-army sergeant major, so I had a big mouth to start with.
"It's been absolutely wonderful the welcome that the town criers have received.
"Lots of people stopped to watch the parade and we have been approached by many people in the town who say it is nice to see the colour and the spectacle."

The event was hosted by Michael Wood, East Riding of Yorkshire town crier.

The overall winner was Paul Gough, town crier for Nuneaton and Bedworth in Warwickshire.
He said: "It's absolutely marvellous. I managed to retain my title, which is extremely difficult to do. "My fellow town criers were absolutely on their game, so I'm very proud to win."
Dave Mitchell, town crier for Chester, was runner-up.

Links Michael Wood - Town Crier www.iringmybell.com/ towncrier.html INSHORT East Riding of Yorkshire town crier Michael Wood hosted the British Championships in Bridlington this weekend.

Twenty-seven town criers from across the country took part.
TRADITIONALLY, people of standing in the community were appointed town criers as they had to be able to write and read the official proclamations.
Often they were a husband and wife team.
The wife would accompany her husband to proclamations and would "watch his back" and ring the bell. The wife had the bell because they are worth a lot of money and if the town crier put it down to read the proclamation it would be stolen. The town crier would read a proclamation, usually at the door of the local inn, then nail it to the door post of the inn. The tradition has resulted in the expression "posting a notice" and the naming of newspapers as "The Post".