A 59-year-old from Hebden Bridge has been crowned the UK’s seagull impersonation champion, describing the birds as “much misunderstood”. Trish Clemit won the overall title at the 2026 Seagull Festival Championships in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, over the weekend.
Some 22 adult competitors were given one minute each to impress the judges in the country’s biggest competition of its kind. For Trish, the contest is about more than winning – she has a deep affinity for the birds themselves.
“I love seagulls, I think they’re really funny. They have never nicked anything precious of mine,” she said.
A talent discovered at Butlins
The full-time carer saw off her rivals with a call she has perfected over 51 years. “I was elated beyond belief that I won. I’ve been doing the impression for a long time now. I’ve finally got the recognition,” she said.
Mum-of-two Trish first discovered her unlikely talent during a holiday to Butlins, aged eight, and has been imitating the birds ever since. “I think they’re really cheeky. I like the way they swoop down and sit next to people when they’re eating chips. It’s also the association with the seaside and holidays,” she explained.
Intense competition
Describing her winning technique, she said: “It’s quite physical. I have to contort my face. Sometimes, it even gives me a bit of a headache – that’s how dedicated I am to my art.”
The contest took place at Weston Museum and was divided into categories for under-12s and over-12s. Cooper Wallace, who went viral as “Seagull Boy” for his impressions, returned to judge the competitors as the festival also hosted gull-themed games and seagull-inspired Morris dancing.
Trish admitted she had not expected the quirky competition to feel quite so intense. “It was quite surreal, really. I’d never done anything like that before. I was quite nervous, but it was really exciting and it felt like a real competition. It was a lot more serious than I thought,” she said.
Secret to an authentic call
Explaining the secret to an authentic call, she said: “A lot of seagull impersonators go for a low pitch, but I try to go from a low pitch to a high pitch with a bit of a warble. It’s like throwing your voice. But I don’t fully know how I’ve actually developed the skill.”
She now plans to mark her 60th birthday by taking her talents abroad and competing in Belgium.
