Local Town Crier E. Michael Jones has returned from North America after placing fifth in his discipline's Eighth World Championships.

The event was held in Sydney on Vancouver Island in British Columbia and featured 62 town criers from around the world.

Mr. Jones said he was "really, really pleased'' with his fifth place finish as he had set himself the goal of finishing in the top ten.

And he said the six-day event was beneficial because judges at the competition gave him valuable feedback on what he could do to improve.

"One judge actually thought I was a bit too loud but I guess I just have a naturally strong voice,'' Mr. Jones said. "The other judges said they heard every word I said.'' The competing criers were judged on their clarity, diction, sustained volume, presence and the flow of their cries.

Each competitor produced three cries: a home cry which advertised their home country; a news cry from the 1700s; and a business cry for a local facility in Sydney.

Mr. Jones will host an international town criers' competition in Bermuda in April of next year and thanked his sponsors Goslings Brothers Limited and Somers Supermarket for their support.