Toowoomba Region town crier, Kevin Howarth, has been crowned world championship at the World Town Crier Tournament in north-west England.
Mr Howarth added the coveted overall world championship title to his long list of achievements at the tournament, which was held across three intense days of competition at Chester.
Mr Howarth described the title win as his most accomplished performance before 25 of the world’s leading town criers from Canada, the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Alderney and England along with a fellow Australian competitor, Judy Campbell, who finished fourth overall.
“This is the ultimate title and the one everyone wants. I’ve been fortunate to win numerous Australian titles and other competitions, but this was an unbelievable moment at my first world championship,” Mr Howarth said.
“It was an extremely high standard of competition with the best of the best criers lining up to entertain the crowd.
“The second placegetter was a crier from Belgium who was competing in his second language. Little separated the field and I was unsure how I was faring when various category prizes were awarded to fellow criers.
“I nudged a fellow crier forward ahead of the major award announcement believing he had won the title. This added to my surprise when my name was announced as the overall world champion.
“I was shocked, humbled and elated. It is an honour to represent the Toowoomba Region, and I love telling people about the great features of our wonderful Region.”
Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor, Geoff McDonald said he and fellow Councillors were overjoyed at Kevin’s latest competition success.
“Anyone who has seen or heard Kevin in full cry knows he is a wholehearted performer,” Mayor McDonald said.
“This is a tremendous reward for his enthusiasm and dedication to his craft.
“We can now proudly introduce him at our events as our latest world champion.”
