MUSICIAN Christopher Illingworth made a triumphant return to the Mrs Sunderland Music Festival after a four-year absence.

Christopher, 19, from Halifax, had competed in the festival in the past, but stopped entering to concentrate on his music studies.

He made a successful return yesterday, by winning the piano 20th century open class.

He was awarded the Joan M Sheard Memorial Trophy for his performance of Rachmaninov's Prelude in G# min Op 32 No 12.

Christopher, who studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, said he was delighted to win.

He added: "I decided to enter because I thought it was time I started competing again.

"I also wanted to play in public. I seem to spend so much time doing exams.

"I was nervous before I went on, but once I sat down it was fine. It's brilliant to win, I really enjoyed it."

Christopher, who has played the piano since he was eight, also plays the double bass, bass guitar and violin.

However, he has not entered classes for these instruments at this year's festival.

Also enjoying success on the piano yesterday were Holmfirth duo Amber Pinfold and Lorna Preston.

The pair won the piano duet 11 years and under class.

They were awarded the Mabel Lee Memorial Trophies.

Verse speaking classes were also held yesterday.

Huddersfield boy Nicholas Booth, 11, won the verse speaking 11 years old class.

He was awarded the Susan Mallinson Cup.

Monday:

String solo, 10 years and under:

1 Abigail Joy Askew, Huddersfield; 2 Andrew Robinson, Meltham; 3 William Robertson, Scholes.

String solo, 12 years and under:

1 Catrin Pryce-Jones, Ripponden; 2 Katrina Lee, Birchencliffe; 3 Joanna Twaddle, Guiseley.

String solo, 14 years and under:

1 Katrina Lee, Birchencliffe; 2 Chris Mansfield, Shepley and Mary Wheldon, Longwood; 3 Catrin Pryce-Jones, Ripponden.

String solo, 16 years and under:

1 Will Grace, Halifax; 2 Rachel Spencer, Holmfirth; 3 Emily Kennedy, Lindley.

String solo, open:

1 Will Grace, Halifax; 2 Rachel Spencer, Holmfirth; 3 Gregory Dembizky, Dewsbury and Jonathan Dorman, Thurlstone.

Verse speaking, 10 years:

1 Jessica Ramsay, Wyke; 2 Christopher Rushworth, Outlane Junior School; 3 Luigi Amitrano, Outlane Junior School.

Prepared reading, eight and nine years:

1 Katie Stephenson, Stage 84 Bingley; 2 Terrelle Kay, Stage 84 and Sophie Brook, Newsome Junior School; 3 Philippa Charnley, Huddersfield and Jonathan Kain, Newsome Junior School.

Bible reading, nine years and under:

1 Stephanie Merrit, Huddersfield.

Bible reading, 10 to 13 years:

1 Jessica Ramsay, Wyke; 2 Natalie Moody, Stage 84 Bingley; 3 Velette Westin-Pearson, Stainland.

Bible reading, 14 to 17 years:

1 Joshua Walters, Huddersfield.

Bible reading, 18 years and over:

1 Gillian Greaves, Gomersal; 2 Helen Wickham, Skelmanthorpe; 3 Deirdre Cameron, Huddersfield.

Verse speaking, novice 13 years and under:

1 Jessica Walton, Stage 84 Bingley; 2 Rachael Hardy, Lightcliffe.

Verse speaking, 14 and 15 years:

1 James Lawson, Lindley; 2 Beth Tait, Huddersfield; 3 Siobhan Jordan, Huddersfield.

Verse speaking, 16 and 17 years:

1 Annalisa McGorlick, Halifax.

Verse speaking, 18 years and over:

1 Rak Verma, Salendine Nook; 2 Carmen Jayne Laird, Huddersfield.

Prepared reading, 14 and 15 years:

1 Joshua Walters, Huddersfield; 2 Claire Foulks, Huddersfield; 3 Michael Dalby, Halifax.

Prepared reading, 18 years and over:

1 Gillian Greaves, Gomersal.

Public speaking, 18 years and over:

1 Rak Verma, Salendine Nook.

Tuesday:

Piano solo, seven years and under:

1 Katrina Pickard, Bradford; 2 Naomi Williams, Leeds.

Piano duet, 11 years and under:

1 Lorna Preston and Amber Pinfold, Holmfirth.

Piano duet, 14 years and under:

1 Simrit Hunjin and Charlotte Crapper, both Leeds; 2 Samantha and Jason Hawkins, both Stalybridge; 3 Alexandra Condon, Bradford and Victoria Cole, Bingley.

Piano duet, 17 years and under:

1 Jessica Seton and Abhu Khusha, both Halifax; 2 Stacey-Danielle and Hayley-Danielle Pearson, both Denby Dale.

Piano duet, open:

1 Eleanor Stokes, Flockton and Ruth Hullock, Dewsbury.

Piano 20th century open:

1 Christopher Illingworth, Halifax; 2 David Schofield, Heald Green; 3 Lucy McLellan, Keighley.

Verse speaking, 12 and 13 years:

1 Hannah Young, Halifax; 2 Natalie Moody, Stage 84 Bingley; 3 Matthew Hall, Stage 84.

Verse speaking, 11 years:

1 Nicholas Booth, Huddersfield; 2 Velette Westin-Pearson, Stainland; 3 Shaunnie Duffy, Huddersfield.

Prepared reading, 12 and 13 years:

1 Alex Whitwam, Huddersfield; 2 Rachel Beaumont, Huddersfield; 3 Elizabeth Hainsworth, Huddersfield.

Verse and prose duo, 13 years and under:

1 Matthew Hall and Justine Wilkinson, Stage 84 Bingley.

Public speaking, 17 years and under:

1 Jessica Ramsay, Wyke.

Dramatic dialogue, 17 years and under:

1 Jessica Ramsay and Christopher Town, both Wyke; 2 Annalisa and Olivia McGorlick, both Halifax; 3 Thomas Ramsay and Victoria Brown, both Wyke.

Shakespeare, 17 years and under:

1 Michael Dalby, Halifax; 2 Annalisa McGorlick, Halifax; 3 Olivia McGorlick, Halifax.