July 6, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
Ivy Phillips has claimed her third Grand Champion Fiddling Title at the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival.
(VIEW JAMBOREE PHOTO GALLERY ON THIS WEBSITE)
The Chapmansboro resident, who also won the Junior Fiddling contest here Saturday night, beat out the Senior Fiddling Champion Thomas Chapman of Falkville, Alabama in the showdown for the Berry C. Williams Memorial Award. Phillips won back to back championships in 2016 and 2017.
It is the 9th year in a row that a Junior Fiddler has beaten the Senior Fiddler for the Grand Championship of the Festival.
Sam Stout, President and Coordinator of the Fiddlers Jamboree presented the award to Ivy at the conclusion of the festival which ended at 10:00 p.m. Saturday evening.
Phillips was also a two time fiddling champion for beginners in 2012 and 2013
By winning the Junior fiddling contest, Phillips edged out two other competitors including the defending grand champion Maddie Denton for a right to advance to the fiddle-off
Winners in the Saturday session of the Fiddler’s Jamboree are as follows:
Junior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages up to 39): First Place- Jacob Fennell of Dickson; Second Place- Chris Stewart of Mount Juliet; and Third Place Lexi Huntley of Loretto.
Senior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Anthony Harrell of Mount Juliet; Second Place- Tommy Scruggs, Jr. of Hartsville and Third Place- Tommy Jackson of Franklin.
Senior Buck Dancing (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Tammy Gay Scruggs of Lebanon; Second Place- Anthony Harrell of Mount Juliet; and Third Place-Danny Campbell of Murfreesboro.
Senior Clogging (Ages 40 & Over): First Place-Anthony Harrell of Mount Juliet; Second Place-Darrin Stryker of Crossville; and Third Place-Danny Campbell of Murfreesboro.
Bluegrass Banjo: First Place-Axel Rico of Smithville; Second Place- Trevor Holder of Ringgold, Georgia; and Third Place-Shane Cothran of Franklin.
Junior Fiddlers (Ages 13-39): First Place-Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro; Second Place- Trenton “Tater” Caruthers of Cookeville; and Third Place-Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro.
Flat Top Guitar: First Place- Jake Patty of Mayfield, Kentucky:; Second Place-Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro: and Third Place-Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro.
Contest Fiddle (Neil Dudney Memorial Award): First Place- Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro; Second Place-Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro; and Third Place- Devon Waite of Goodletsville. The Neil Dudney Award was presented to Phillips by Dudney’s widow Emma Jean, grandchildren, Ethan, Brandon, and Dylan Shaw, and great grandson Carson. Dudney, who passed away last October, served as President and Coordinator of the Fiddlers Jamboree for 16 years until he stepped down in 2008.
Bluegrass Band: First Place- Tennessee Tradition of Danville, Georgia; Second Place-Smithville Fiddlin Music Team of Ringgold, Georgia; and Third Place-Mountain Cove Bluegrass of Beechgrove.
Senior Fiddlers ( Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Thomas Chapman of Falkville, Alabama; Second Place-Gail Johnson of Lavergne; and Third Place- Marcia Denton of Murfreesboro.
Square Dancing: First Place-Rocky Top Revue of Franklin; Second Place- Step Aside of Waverly; and Third Place- Harpeth River of Franklin.