ONLY one East Lancashire competitor was successful in the adult classes of the Luther Greenwood Memorial Festival at Colne.

Singer Sheila Stocks, from Rossendale, won the British composer class singing ‘Pleading’ by Elgar, and gained two runner-up places and two thirds in other classes, in the annual competition held at The Muni.

Other competitors from Rossendale, Burnley and Padiham were placed, but the competition’s major singing prizes, including the Lancashire Telegraph Trophy, were taken by Gillian Teague, from Blackpool.

Entries in the adult classes were down on last year’s, compared to increased interest in the children’s classes held the previous weekend.

Festival committee chairman Peter Jelley said: “The falling number of adult competitors is somewhat disappointing, but it’s the same situation with other music festivals all over.

“On the other hand we’re pleased by the rising number of junior competitors for music and for speech and drama, and as our main aim is to encourage this young talent then this year’s festival has been successful.”

Adult music classes (East Lancs competitors): Mezzo-soprano solo: 3 Christine Dixon (Waterfoot).

Contralto solo: 3 Rachel Barrowclough (Burnley).

Oratorio solo: 3 Sheila M Stocks (Rossendale).

Over 60s solo: 2 Dennis Black (Waterfoot).

Operatic solo: 3 Sheila M Stocks.

Victorian or Edwardian ballad: 2 Sheila M Stocks.

Lieder/art song: 3 Ingrid Riding (Padiham).

British composer: 1 Sheila M Stocks; 2 Rachel Barrowclough.

Light opera/musical solo: 2 Sheila M Stocks.