HATHERLEIGH town crier Rosalind Charlton Chard had something to shout about last weekend after finishing fourth in the Devon Shield competition held at Witheridge.

Ros? fourth place in a very close event came just a week after she won two prizes at a town criers? competition held in Ilfracombe.

Ros had a busy day on Saturday ? after taking part in the competition she headed back to open the Ruby Country fete at Cookworthy Forest Centre, before dashing back to Witheridge for the final judging.

Ros has a good record at the Devon Shield, last year she finished third.

One of the few female town criers in the country, Ros has helped put Hatherleigh on the map with her success in competitions.

Ros was accompanied by her faithful dog ?Millie the Magnificent?.

Ros won two prizes at Ilfracombe ? she was overall winner for the best cry, recorded the best aggregate score, and was delighted to come away with a shield, a tankard and a salver.

The competition was held on the seafront to mark the final day of the Ilfracombe Victorian festival, and attracted a field of around 25 criers. Two town criers traveled all the way from Victoria, Australia, to take part.

Ros said the competition was held in glorious sunshine. ?It was beautiful. Millie was trying to find a parasol to sit underneath,? she said.

In accordance with the rules of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers, competitors were judged on three categories: diction and inflection, sustained volume and clarity and dignity.

Ros said she enjoyed travelling around the country promoting Hatherleigh, always taking leaflets with her depicting the sights and character of the town.

She said she was hoping to spread the name of Hatherleigh even further afield by representing the town at the European Town Criers? Championships in Belgium, but said she needed some more sponsorship to make this possible.