TALENTED young performers were on top form in the Thornbury's Armstrong Hall recently during the annual Celebration Concert marking the end of another highly successful Young Persons' Eisteddfod.

Now an integral part of the town's annual Arts Festival and an important music and drama showcase for youth, this year's Eisteddfod once again attracted entries from all over South Gloucestershire and surrounding districts.

This year's event attracted some 334 entries and all together more than 800 young people, aged up to 18, took part in 68 competition classes held at Castle School, the Sheiling School and St Mary's Church.

Some 27 selected cup winners and those judged best in class came together in the town's Armstrong Hall for the special concert attended by town mayor Alan Jones and his wife Eleri.

"It was a lovely occasion with some wonderful performances and it was great to see so many enthusiastic young people enjoying their own and each other's work in music and speech," said eisteddfod sub committee chairman Tony Wilcock. "The audience was very appreciative and there was a tremendous response, especially, as you'd expect, from proud parents.

"After the grand finale there was a standing ovation led by the mayor. He has invited one of the performers, vocalist Sarah Mosses, to sing at this Sunday's civic service at the United Reformed Church."

An added bonus this year was an appearance by European Irish Dance champion Katy Jane Macvean, a previous eisteddfod winner, who performed a tradional Irish folk song and followed by an Irish dance.

Cup winners included Susannah Hudson who received the Lions' Plate for the best brass performance (presented by Lion Ted Dolder) and Eleanor Popham who was presented with the Daphne Ashton Cup for speech and drama (presented by Mrs Ashton ).

"There were terrific performances throughout all sections of the concert," said Tony who was concert master of ceremonies."They reflected the outstanding quality of this year's eisteddfod entries. The adjudicators all admitted that standards were so high they had great difficulty selecting winners."

He paid tribute to the stewards and volunteer supporters who had given their time freely throughout the eisteddfod and at Sunday's concert.

"Without them this event simply would not happen and Thornbury would be the poorer for it," he said. terr