Bells were polished and regalia was brushed down when more than 20 town criers entered Newton Abbot's Annual Town Criers' Championship in the town centre on Saturday. Now in its 6th year it attracts criers from all around the country and is arranged by Newton Abbot Town Council. 'It was an absolutely brilliant day. What the criers like is that the competition takes place in the main street, which is where this type of event should take place,' said Ken Purchase, Newton Abbot town crier who helped organise the event. 'The standard this year was very high. The judges Richard Younger-Ross, Teignbridge MP; Beryl Austen, chairman of Teignbridge Council; Rick Webb, Flight Lieutenant of 1322 Squadron and Di Nicholls were very pleased with all the criers who entered.' Crier Paul Gough, from Nuneaton and Bedworth, was the winner. David Fry, from south Gloucestershire, was second and in third place was new town crier Roger Pender, from Kingsbridge. It was the first competition he had entered. 'Frank and Beryl Beer, from Liskeard, won the best dressed category, which was judged by representatives from Austins store. Mr Purchase said that the competition increased in popularity each year. 'During the day we had the Newton Abbot and District Town Band play. Both the competition and band were watched by a lot of people,' he said.
