'Seagull boy' swoops in to retain screeching title

A 10-year-old British boy has defended his European title for mimicking seagulls - seeing off competition, this year, from his little sister.

Cooper, from Chesterfield in Derbyshire, took the marine bird imitation world by storm when his high-pitched impression of a gull saw him soar to victory in the 2024 EC Gull Screeching contest.

Now he has become the first screecher to retain the juvenile category crown in the competition's five-year history.

His seven-year-old sister Shelby, now known as "Sea Gurl", made it a high-flying weekend for the family by landing fourth place.

"I feel really excited and shocked," said Cooper.

"They [the other competitors] were really good too - including Shelby."

Cooper - who launched his screeching career after he was pecked by a seagull when he was younger - and Shelby were among 22 young competitors who took part in the unusual contest in the Belgian coastal town of De Panne at the weekend.

Competitors, usually dressed in bird costumes, are invited to take to the microphone and screech to try to impress a panel of gull experts and marine biologists.

Cooper and Shelby's mum, Lauren, told the BBC: "It's a very tough competition.

"Everyone who takes part is very, very good, so I'm very proud of them both.

"We are so happy that Cooper won again, but Shelby is going to be after that title next year, I think."

Shelby said she was really pleased at her place in the competition after practising and copying Cooper's technique.

Lauren said Cooper's seagull screeching success had not gone to his head - even if he would not share his top secret techniques.

"He takes it all in his stride. He's so chilled about winning again," she said.

"It has been a huge boost to his confidence.

"He's very bright, but he is a bit shy - unlike Shelby, who wants to do everything.

"His confidence has soared. He is doing so many things he wouldn't have done before, including getting a part as an ugly sister in his school play Cinderella."

A panel of judges awards each screech a score out of 100, and the winner is the person who gets most points.

Each judge awards up to 20 possible points, with up to five points awarded for how the competitors were dressed and the behaviour they exhibited.

The remaining 15 points are awarded for how they mimicked the call of a seagull - with attention paid to the timbre, rhythm, and variation of the efforts.

Cooper's winning score was 87, and Shelby's effort got 81 points.

There was more British success with Toby, 10, from Leeds, taking third place.

Cooper was awarded his second first-place medal and a hamper full of crisps, chocolate and fizzy drinks as a reward for his super screeching.

Lauren added: "We're definitely planning to come back next year.

"Both Cooper and Shelby are already excited about it.

"It's a really amazing event - but not one I'd ever have thought we'd have a talent for in the family."

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