July 8, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
For the third time since 2012, Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro has claimed the Grand Champion Fiddling Title at the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival.
Denton, who won the Junior Fiddling contest Saturday night, beat out the Senior Fiddling Champion Gail Johnson of Lavergne in the showdown for the Berry C. Williams Memorial Award.
Sam Stout, President and Coordinator of the Fiddlers Jamboree presented the award to Maddie at the conclusion of the festival which ended just before midnight Saturday evening.
Maddie first won the title in 2012 and again in 2014, beating out her mother, Marcia Denton both times. Maddie is also a past fiddling winner in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners at the Jamboree.
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 Jason Wade of Paris, Tennessee.
Senior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Tommie Scruggs, Jr. of Hartsville; Second Place- Tommy Jackson of Franklin and Third Place- Spring Nelson of Murfreesboro
Senior Buck Dancing (Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Danny Campbell of Murfreesboro; Second Place- Spring Nelson of Murfreesboro; and Third Place- Eileen Stewart of Cumberland City.
Senior Clogging (Ages 40 & Over): First Place-Spring Nelson of Murfreesboro; Second Place- Traci Warren of Dickson; and Third Place-Tommy Jackson of Franklin
Bluegrass Banjo: First Place-Kurt Stephenson of Dyersburg; Second Place- Tyler Collins of Wilder; and Third Place- Austin Hefflefinger of Rimersburg, Pennsylvania
Junior Fiddlers (Ages 13-39): First Place-Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro; Second Place- Giri Peters of Nashville; and Third Place- Hillary Klug of Shelbyville.
Flat Top Guitar: First Place- Tyler Sellers of Pleasant View; Second Place- Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro; and Third Place-Rob Pearcy of Smyrna.
Contest Fiddle (Neil Dudney Award): First Place- Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro; Second Place- Jewelia Lawrence of Knoxville; and Third Place- Hillary Klug of Shelbyville. The Neil Dudney Award was presented to Denton by Dudney’s grandchildren, Ethan, Brandon, and Dylan Shaw.
Bluegrass Band: First Place- Silver Point of Wilder; Second Place- Mountain Cove Bluegrass of Signal Mountain; and Third Place- Bluegrass One of Clarksville.
Senior Fiddlers ( Ages 40 & Over): First Place- Gail Johnson of Lavergne; Second Place- Billy Brewer of Lyles; and Third Place- Marcia Denton of Murfreesboro
Square Dancing: First Place-Rocky Top Revue of Franklin; Second Place- Traditional Timing of Waverly; and Third Place- Harpeth River of Franklin.