Cherie's right on song for judges

IPSWICH teenager Cherie Gardner is celebrating today after beating more than 2,000 singers to win a national talent competition.Cherie won the Park Resorts adult talent contest at a final in Scarborough, having successfully won through the regional final.

By Jo Macdonald

IPSWICH teenager Cherie Gardner is celebrating today after beating more than 2,000 singers to win a national talent competition.

Cherie won the Park Resorts adult talent contest at a final in Scarborough, having successfully won through the regional final.

Over the summer season at the company's 13 holiday parks, more than 2,200 aspiring singers and professional artists entered the competition which offered a substantial cash prize to the winner.

But the 18-year-old beat all the competition singing a medley of Whitney Houston hits with one judge commenting that she was one of the best talents he had seen for a long time.

The cut glass trophy the 18-year-old was also presented with as part of her prize now takes pride of place in the Ipswich home she shares with her parents Paul and Sally, sister Danielle and brothers Justin and Jacob.

This was the third national singing contest Cherie has entered. In the previous two contests she made it to the finals but this is the first she has won outright.

Cherie also sings in her family's band Family Affair and is hoping to audition for Pop Idol next year.