Young fiddler competition organisers looking to hand over baton

The organisers of the Shetland Young Fiddler of the Year competition are looking for people to take over the running of the annual event.

The present team at the Shetland Folk Society feels it is time to hand over to new blood after more than 10 years organising the prestigious competition. Society president Douglas Sinclair and secretary Charlie Simpson have decided that the 31st competition in 2012 will be the last one they wish to organise.

Mr Simpson said: “The annual meeting of the society is on Friday 9th December in Islesburgh. We’re hoping that anybody interested might turn up and offer to help in future years.”

The competition, held in April, is open to local fiddlers aged 16 or under. The current champion is Hannah Adamson from Cunningsburgh.

The first winner was Margaret Robertson (Scollay) in 1982. Among the winners down the years who have gone on to great things in music are Catriona MacDonald, who won in 1983, Chris Stout (1991), Bryan Gear (1992), Jenna Reid (1995), Gemma Donald (2002), Ryan Couper (2006) and Maggie Adamson (2008).