Seagull Sound-Alike Crowned Champion

Trish Clemit, a resident of Hebden Bridge, has achieved victory at the 2026 Seagull Festival Championships held in Weston-super-Mare. She secured the overall winner title with her exceptional seagull impersonation, a talent she first discovered at the age of eight. Clemit shared that she has long admired seagulls, feeling they "get a bad press" and possess "fantastic" sounds. She mentioned finding out about the competition through a friend and traveled from Hebden specifically to participate. The contest featured separate categories for under-12s and over-12s. This year's event took place at the Weston Museum and was enhanced by unique seagull-themed entertainment. Attendees enjoyed seagull-themed games and traditional Morris dancing, all celebrating the distinctive calls of seagulls. Clemit stated she was "really, really pleased" with her win, highlighting her long-standing affection for the avian species.