10 YEARS AGO Schreyer's 7th win tied record set by Gyurki

For the second straight year the finish was a memorable one at the Canadian Open Old Time Fiddlers' Contest in Shelburne, held Friday and Saturday, August 6 and 7, 1999.

The 49th annual competition, held at the Centre Dufferin Recreation Centre, saw a seventh Open championship title go to Louis Schreyer, of Chapleau, Que., tying a record some said would never be tied. The win tied Schreyer with seventime winner Ed Gyurki, whose first win was in 1958 and his last 20 years later. Shreyer first won the Open class in 1986 when he was 18.

The win virtually guaranteed that the champ will make a return trip to the 50th championship next year. "Fiddling is in my blood, so I guess I have to come back next year and try for a number eight," he said following the Saturday night finals.

Last year, Pembroke native April Verch became the first woman to win the Open championship since 1979 when the winner was Eleanor Townsend. This year, the defending champ finished a disappointing fifth.

Mr. Schreyer said he only plays in two competitions a year these days and found this year's competition particularly close.

"This year, the competition was very close. ... you could have picked straws to determine the winner."

That sentiment was echoed by Jeff Goodes, the CBC's master of ceremonies during the radio broadcast of the contest finals.

In addition to the title Mr. Schreyer took home the CBC trophy, the Shelburne Kinettes cash prize of $1500 and, from the Town of Shelburne, a framed print of "The Fiddle," by local artist Laurie McGaw.

Scott Woods, of Fergus, who has won the title twice in past and place in the top ten several times, took second place and Shane Cook, of Dorchester, Ont., took third for the second straight year.

Winners in the other classes included Kyle Sharron, of Barrie, nine and under; Terri Surrette, of Riverview, N.B., 12 and under; Webb Acheson, of Maynooth, Ont., 65 and over; Gerry Smith, of Exeter, 45-65 years; Terry-Lynn Mahuskie, of Renfrew, the 19-45 class; Erin Kelly, Chapleau, Que., 18-andunder class; Shane and Kyle Cook, Dorchester, duet class; Matthew Johnson, Stratford, Novelty class and Vince Mountford trophy as the most entertaining fiddler.

The fiddle contest was not the only event that took place in Fiddleville prior to the competition. Thursday night, the Scott Woods Show took over the arena with Mr. Woods and guest musicians playing to almost 1,000 people.

Saturday afternoon was the Giant Fiddle Parade, which included a performance by the Metro Toronto Police "Winged Wheels" motorcycles.

The Shelburne Lions Club hosted a beer garden all weekend, the Shelburne Fair Board sponsored a midway on the fairgrounds, local churches held an ecumenical church service Sunday morning in the arena and the fair board put on their famous Pork BBQ.

Fiddle Contest secretary Nelson Hill said that while attendance at the Saturday night finals was down slightly from last year, the Friday afternoon and evening attendance was up and the number of competitors was up again this year with almost 130 fiddlers vying for titles.

Shelburne Police laid several open liquor tickets and charged several minors with consuming alcohol. They also investigated one accident that was not alcohol related.