Bill Jones of Covington, Georgia, was named Alabama State Fiddle Champion Saturday at the 52nd annual Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention.

Jones won the title by winning the “fiddle off,” which pits the top fiddlers from the junior, intermediate and senior divisions. He was awarded the convention’s top prize of $1,200. Tyler Andal of Nashville was runner-up.

The 2018 convention, held on the campus of Athens State University, was presented by Huntsville International Airport with stage sponsorships by Alabama Farmers Cooperative and Aetos Systems Inc. Other sponsors included Athens State University Foundation and the Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce. The convention contributes to Athens State by funding student scholarships and university projects.

The event was also made possible in part by a grant from the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area.

Convention winners

Other winners were as follows:

Harmonica

• First: Jim Owens of Deatsville;

• Second: J.L. Kennedy of Oxford;

• Third: Rob Pearcy of Smyrna, Tennessee;

• Fourth: Tom Ford of Arab; and

• Fifth: Graham Kash of Cookeville, Tennessee.

Mandolin

• First: Tyler Andal of Nashville;

• Second: Joel Whittinghill of Bowling Green, Kentucky;

• Third: Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro, Tennessee;

• Fourth: Michael Williams of Joppa; and

• Fifth: Aaron Koch of Pensacola.

Bluegrass banjo

• First: Weston Stewart of Anderson;

• Second: Nicholas Foster of Florence;

• Third: Jack Hatfield of Knoxville, Tennessee;

• Fourth: Wiley Bailey of Fort Payne; and

• Fifth: Daniel Mason of New Market.

Dobro

• First: Roman Locklear of Hayden;

• Second: Damion Kidd of Blountsville;

• Third: Rob Pearcy of Smyrna, Tennessee;

• Fourth: Wesley Allen of Childersburg; and

• Fifth: Michael Williams of Joppa.

Dulcimer

• First: Tyler Andal of Nashville;

• Second: Rob Pearcy of Smyrna, Tennessee;

• Third: Laura Loum, Athens;

• Fourth: Jan Hammond, Athens; and

• Fifth: Wesley Allen, Childersburg.

Old-time singing

• First: Hunter Patterson, Hartselle;

• Second: Jon Newlin, Durham, North Carolina;

• Third: Margie Simmons, Bellamy;

• Fourth: Edgar Finn, Pell City; and

• Fifth: Allen Daniel, Woodland.

Beginning fiddler (10 and under)

• First: Hailey Bryant of Greenbrier, Tennessee;

• Second: Emma Shelton of Coker;

• Third: Sam Kelly of Memphis, Tennessee;

• Fourth: Hattie Bryant of Greenbrier, Tennessee; and

• Fifth: Shiloh Smith of Northport.

Apprentice fiddler

• First: Kate Ward of Kuttawa, Kentucky;

• Second: David Lin of Lexington, Kentucky;

• Third: Devon Waite of Ridgetop, Tennessee;

• Fourth: Meredith Hudson of Gordo; and

• Fifth: Anna Lee Vaughn of Berry.

Beginning musician (12 and under)

• First: Conner McMeans of Athens;

• Second: Brannock McCartan of Crestwood, Kentucky;

• Third: Abby Vaughn of Berry;

• Fourth: Aniston Scott of Adairville, Kentucky; and

• Fifth: Amelia Brown of Springfield, Tennessee.

Guitar (finger-picking)

• First: Hayden Stephens of Athens;

• Second: Justin Echols of Decatur;

• Third: Patrick Lowery of Brewton;

• Fourth: Vance Smith of Athens; and

• Fifth: Jimmy Bratcher of Shelbyville, Tennessee.

Old-time banjo

• First: Luke Richardson of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee;

• Second: Rafe Stefanini of Elkins Park, Pennsylvania;

• Third: Tyler Andal of Nashville;

• Fourth: Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro, Tennessee; and

• Fifth: Matt Downer of Chattanooga.

Guitar (flat-picking)

• First: Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro, Tennessee;

• Second: Brad Bulla of Nashville;

• Third: Adam Wright of Goodlettsville, Tennessee;

• Fourth: Joel Whittinghill of Bowling Green, Kentucky; and

• Fifth: Tyler Andal of Nashville.

Classic old-time fiddler

• First: Austin Derryberry of Unionville, Tennessee;

• Second: Rafe Stefanini of Elkins Park, Pennsylvania;

• Third: Luke Richardson of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee;

• Fourth: Clelia Stefanini of Nashville; and

• Lisa Richardson of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.

Senior fiddler (55 and older)

• First: Mark Ralph of Whitesville, Kentucky;

• Second: Marcia Denton of Murfreesboro, Tennessee;

• Third: Brad Riley of Waller, Texas;

• Fourth: Tim Daniels of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee; and

• Fifth: Wayne Jerrolds of Savannah, Tennessee.

Bluegrass band

• First: Crosswind of Olive Hill, Tennessee;

• Second: Hickory Ridge of Anderson;

• Third: Route South of Jemison;

• Fourth: Shoal Creek Pickers of Fayetteville of Fayetteville, Tennessee;

• Fifth: Savannah Bluegrass of Savannah, Tennessee.

Old-time band

• First: Mt. Valley River Band of Nashville;

• Second: Uncle Shuffelo & His Haint Hootenanny of Unionville, Tennessee;

• Third: The Neon Brothers of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee;

• Fourth: Slim Chance Band of Smyrna, Tennessee; and

• Fifth: Old Tyme Travelers of Chattanooga.

Junior fiddler (Ages 16-34)

• First: Tyler Andal of Nashville;

• Second: Ivy Phillips of Chapmansboro, Tennessee;

• Third: Andrew Lin of Lexington, Kentucky;

• Fourth: Matthew Lin of Lexington, Kentucky; and

• Fifth: Benjamin Lin of Lexington, Kentucky.

Intermediate fiddler (Ages 35-54)

• First: Bill Jones of Covington, Georgia;

• Second: Joel Whittinghill of Bowling Green, Kentucky; and

• Third: Sharon Bounds of Northport.

Buck dancing

• First: Lexi Huntley of Loretto, Tennessee;

• Second: Courtney Derryberry of Unionville, Tennessee;

• Third: Margie Simmons of Bellamy;

• Fourth: Tommy Jackson of Franklin, Tennessee; and

• Fifth: Jacob Fennell of Dickson, Tennessee.