First Gold Guitar titles decided

Murchison and Hamilton singers take honours

GWYNETH HYNDMAN

The Gore Town and Country Club Stadium swelled with country music as the Gold Guitar Awards entertained last night at the intermediate and junior finals.

The junior overall winner was The Two J's – Jade and Jenna Gibson, of Murchison – and the intermediate winner was Hannah Cosgrove, of Hamilton.

Both will go home with the New Zealand Gold Guitar Trophy and return air travel to Australia to attend the 2013 Tamworth Country Music Festival among other prizes.

Tonight the senior finals will wrap up the week at the Gore Town and Country Club stadium, starting at 7.30pm.

For Invercargill performers Maggie Townley, 11, and Beth Walker, 10, the chance to perform Rockin' With The Rhythm Of The Rain by The Judds in front of an enthusiastic audience, was an opportunity the pair are ready for.

''We've been rehearsing for ages,'' Beth said.

This was her third time at the Gold Guitar Awards and she was a little bit nervous but also feeling confident after three months of rehearsing.

Maggie said one of the best parts of the awards was meeting new people. The daughter of 2000 Gold Guitar overall winner Bryan Townley, this is Maggie's 5th time at the awards.

Beth also comes from a talented background - her mother Bonnie Turner is also a past Gold Guitar category winner.

The pair were told to break a leg by Lynda Topp of the Topp Twins before they went on stage.

- © Fairfax NZ News