LIAR ROW PROMPTS RULE CHANGE VOW
Published in The News and Star on 22/11/2003
ORGANISERS have promised to tighten up the rules for the Worlds Biggest Liar after judges at this years event suffered verbal abuse from angry punters.
Copeland Mayor George Clements was singled out for abuse after judges made the controversial decision to award the title to South Africas Abrie Kruger.
Organisers say they are now planning to fully brief next years judges to avoid further ugly scenes, which saw drunken hecklers and contestants accuse them of fixing the competition, complaining the winner wasnt Cumbrian and singing Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory.
Copelands Greg Fisher, who ran this years event, said: SWe will be discussing this with the people at the Bridge Inn and I think we will provide comprehensive rules for the judges and also fully brief them before the event so this doesnt happen again.
SI think most of the noise was coming from some of the other contestants entourages. I was shocked to see the Mayor being verbally attacked by a drunken buffoon.
Abrie won the judges over after proclaiming himself the king of Wasdale and revealing a grand scheme to build a castle on Scafell Pike, but was accused of cheating by some for reading from a script.
SI think the lad won fair and square and was a worthy winner, added Mr Fisher. SA script isnt a prop. A prop would be something like a jug of water.
The night had gone without a hitch, with all the contestants (including Abrie) recieving generous applause and George Clements performing an impromptu version of Its a Long Way to Tipperary while playing the spoons.
SI thought Id get more flack for playing the spoons, Mr Clements said yesterday. SI was disappointed to hear people complaining the winner wasnt Cumbrian because it is an international world title.
But some have vowed never to return after the controversial decision.
Raymond Udds, who argued bitterly for over an hour with the judging panels Joan Hully, told the News & Star: SIts not right, you cant bring props onto the stage. Its all a fix.
SWeve been coming to this for 12 years and Ive never been so angry. I dont think Ill come back.
But Mr Clements is urging people to get the event into perspective.
He said: "Its the Worlds Biggest Liar. Its a fun event.
"There were no losers because they were all excellent."