Pickin’ N’ Fiddlin’ Winners

ROXBURY — The 36th Annual  Roxbury Volunteer Fire Department Pickin’ n Fiddlin’ Contest was held on its rain date of Sunday, July 11, due to the unpredictability of the previous day’s weather.

Newtown residents did well at the competition this year, winning first place in four of the ten categories.

Erick Foyt of Sandy Hook won the Mandolin category, followed by Jim Allyn of Newtown in second place. Mr Allyn won the Flat Pick Guitar category; Korey Brodskey, 11, also of Newtown, won the Junior Category; and Newtown’s The Silver Bridge Band won in the Bands division.

Additional winners of last weekend’s event were as follows: Old Time Fiddle — Colin Healy of Stratford; Old Time Banjo — Guy Wolff of Bantam; Trick and Fancy Fiddle — Max Rainwater of Colombia; Finger Pick Guitar — Rich Patchkofsky of Seymour;  Bluegrass Banjo — Joan Harrison of Stanfordville, N.Y.; and Senior Category (age 60 and over) — Dave Howard of Waterbury.

Approximately 1,700 enjoyed the beautiful weather at Apple Lane Park and the musical talents of 69 contestants and 12 bands in competition for $3,200 in prize money largely donated by Union Savings Bank. This is the major fundraiser for Roxbury Volunteer Fire Department, with proceeds going toward new equipment for the department.