Joe scores 7th Bothy Ballads win
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THE Bothy Ballads on Saturday night saw Joe Aitken chalk up a record number of Champion of Champion titles.
Going into the performance at Elgin Town Hall, Joe had stood level with Hector Riddell with six apiece.
The Kirriemuir resident performed "The Hearst o' Rettie", a ballad from 1800s tells of the changes brought to agricultural life when the scythe was replaced by the back delivery reaper.
Joe, whose first victory was back in 1997, pronounced himself "fair chuffed" to win for a ground-breaking seventh time.
He also praised Elgin Rotary for helping to keep Bothy Ballads very much alive by hosting the annual event.
Second place was taken by Doug Hay singing "Bogie's Bonnie Belle".
Third was Hector Riddell with "The Hash o’ Benagoak".
The judges – Pete Shepheard and Jimmy Hutchison, who are both founder members of the Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland – said Joe’s rendition was immaculate and sung with great feeling for the story line.
However, they added, this year's standard was exceptional and they could easily have given the award to any one of the three prize-winners.
The other competitors were Ellie Beaton from Rothienorman, Shona Donaldson from Tarland and Allan Taylor from Alford, who also delighted the sell-out crowd.
The evening was hosted by Ken Smith, a Rotarian and also former editor of the Strathspey Herald, the Northern Scot and Forres Gazette.
The Champion of Champions event has been organised for the past 38 years by The Rotary Club of Elgin and sponsored by The Macallan.
Rotary president Margaret Stenton said: "It’s been another tremendous evening. We’re delighted at the continuing success of Bothy Ballads.
"As a club, we’re proud we can help to make sure this unique part of the cultural heritage of the north east of Scotland is kept alive in this very entertaining way."
A crowd were also entertained throughout the evening with virtuoso performances from Charlie McKerron on fiddle and Marc Clement on guitar. Very much part of the tradition of the evening is the serving of stovies, drams and glasses of milk during the 20-minute interval to well over 500 people.
A team of over 60 Rotarians, Rotaractors and partners ensure this happens smoothly.
