Erin Loach was named the Young Singer of Mann, following a keenly contested final round, held in Port Erin last weekend.

Eight young singers contested the final of the prestigious competition, held at the Erin Arts Centre on Sunday, June 17, which was described by competition chairman as the most difficult to judge in its history.

Erin,15, eventually impressed the panel of judges with her unaccompanied rendition of the Manx folk song ’Arrane Saveenagh’, sung in Gaelic, which was described as ’hauntingly beautiful’.

She also performed ’The Water is Wide’, by Mark Hayes and ’Sweet Chance’ that Leads my Steps Abroad’, by Michael Head.

She was awarded the trophy and the top prize of £150 by Sharon Sutton, representing sponsors Thornton Chartered Financial Planners and David Wilkinson from NFU Mutual.

’Winning the competition was fantastic,’ said Erin, who is also a regular competitor in the Guild, having won the girl’s solo class in Manx Gaelic for the past three years, and a winning artist in this year’s Manx Folk Awards, along with competing for the Sheffield Plate and being a member of the Manx Children’s Choir.

’It’s not just because of the award but also because I love to sing. Having something to show for that feels amazing.’

King William’s College student Evan Darroch,12, was voted in second place.

The other contestants were Daisy Quinn, 11, Tyler Kneale, 14, Lucy Shimmin, 13, Evie Skillicorn, 12, and the two youngest contestants, Zac Colligan, 10 and nine-year-old Kasia Ashton.

They were selected after an initial round of competition featuring 20 singers under the age of 16 years.

John Bethell, the chairman of the Young Singer of Mann competition, said the task of choosing a winner was extremely difficult.

’This entry was the highest calibre and hardest ever to decide a winner from in the history of the event’, said John, who was also the head of the four-strong judging panel, which also included Dr Fenella Bazin, Joyce Corlett, Margaret Curphy and Emma Callin.

Marilyn Kissack accompanied all the finalists.