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Fiddle Surprise at Ajo, AZ

Clawcamp west is only 2 weeks away! Still 2 spots left so hurry on over to San Diego for some sun and banjo.

Yes, my websites are back up and running correctly. Thanks to all of you who wrote to let me know when they were down.

I must tell you that I really don't like competitions or competing. I have long since stopped feeling any need or desire to compete at contests such as Clifftop or Mt. Airy. I avoided competing at our Yuma contest because I had won several catagories 3 years in a row and convinced everyone that it was someone else's turn and that since I am club president (yeah, I missed the meeting) and co-coordinator of the event it could be seen as a conflict of interest. But, every now and then I enter one of the contests out here in AZ because my club-mates convince me that I "have to". Such was the case at Ajo last weekend.

Now competing out here is not like back east. No one tune and out. It's three tunes, hoedown, waltz and tune of choice which may NOT be a hoedown or waltz and if there is a tie, another tune (usually a hoedown). More than one catagory? Well, three MORE tunes and if a category plays twice (like our Yuma contest) three more! AND you are not allowed to repeat any of the tunes in any other category. SO, you get the idea.

Well, these things just make me plain nervous and I sure was when I played the Adult division round. Boy, I figured I sounded like hell. SO, I went off to jam with some like minded old time musicians including my clawhammer playin wife, The Lovely Miss Jennifer. We played for a couple of hours. As we were playing a couple comes up to the jam and says, "Congratulations" to me. I was puzzled and asked "For what?" The lady says, "you won", me, still confused, "won what?" Her - "First place!" Well, I was still confused but yep, found the organizer who handed me the award! Could have knocked me over with a fiddle!

Next day was the "grand champion" category which puts the first three of all age groups against each other. There were 13 or 14 fiddlers including some pretty hot child fiddlers - always hard to beat! Well, I DID! Won Grand Champion also! What a surprise but lots of Fun. That and GREAT jammin too! Woh, I might be hooked (not!).

Special thanks to my Accompanist Dennis Russell (drypitstop). Couldn't do it without him! Congrats to him also. Dennis took second in the Accompanist category! Dennis lives here in Yuma and is one of the founders of our Territorial Chapter of the AZ OT Fiddlers' assoc. Another great reason to be in Yuma.

Oh, What did I win with at an Old Time Fiddlers' contest? GC round: Yellow Barber; Midnight on the Water; and Whistling Rufus. Adult: Martha Campbell; Orvetta Waltz; and Pig Ankle Rag. Yes, folks, Our Old Time can win at contests other than Clifftop.

That's right, real old time tunes. So, when you say you don't come to the Old Time Fiddlers' association events because that ain't really old time and is all that "contesty stuff", remember - that's only because you are not here.

We plan at least one OTFA event this year each month. March will be in Corneville (up by Cottonwood) and April is Salome! No contests at those, just great jams, good food and good folks.

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