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TOWN CRIERS .. shout out for Scus Downtown Port Perry echoed with the repeated sounds of “Oyez, Oyez, Oyez,” August 8 to 10 as the Ontario Guild of Town Criers chose Port Perry as the venue for its Provincial Championships. The event, organized by Scugog’s Champion Crier, Bill McKee, attracted 17 criers from as far away as Ottawa and Welland. Jennifer Olivero from Hanover was the only female competitor. The three-day event got into high gear on Saturday with each participant shouting two separate cries at the Gazebo in Palmer Park and culminated with the final cry on Sunday in front of the Post Office. The participants were judged on standards including; enunciation, clarity, number of words, projection, appropriateness of costume etc. On each day Bill McKee, the outgoing provincial champion, gave a benchmark cry, but as host of the event, was not eligible to participate. Each of the three cries had a separate theme. “Farmers’ markets” and local “micro breweries” were the themes for Saturday's cries. In keeping with the simultaneous “Brits on the Lake” Car Show on Sunday, the theme was “Anything British.” Encouraged by a large crowd in front of the Post Office, Sunday’s final cry proved to be the most entertaining and the most popular. First place overall was Mark Molnar from St. Catharines. David McKee from Brantford took second, and third place was won by Shaun Kruger who represented Bracebridge and Santa’s Village. John Webster from Markham won the award for the best dressed competitor and his wife Mary won first place in the Best Dressed Escort category. The success of this event in Port Perry earned top marks from all the participants and those who were in the audience. It is hoped that Bill Mckee will consider bringing this event back to Port Perry again some- time in the future. : John Webster - Towmorer for the City of Markhgm. THE 2014 TOWN CRIER PROVINCIAL WINNERS The thi it 10 in Port Perry. And the winners are: from left. 3rd - Shaun Kruger, eecatve 1st - Mark Molnar, St. Catha- rines, 2nd - David McKee, Brantford. Rob Meisner - Town crier for Wellend, Ontario FOCUS - SEPTEMBER 2014 41