The youngest competitor in the junior finals, Jayden did not let his youth or height get in the way of putting on a good show.
His performance of Hey Good Lookin', while playing a guitar that was nearly as tall as he was, was greeted with a roar from the crowd, while Jayden thanked them with a mischievous smile.
"It's a fun song," he said.
This year was the second time he had entered in the Gold Guitars, but Jayden said he was not nervous, despite being frustrated mucking up one of the lines in the song.
Last year, he won the under-14 section of the Freeze Ya Bits Off busking competition.
The George Street Normal School pupil began learning guitar and how to sing when he was 5.
"I love singing and playing the guitar.
I sing at home until my voice creaks," Jayden said.
Tapanui girl Molly Johnson (12), won two junior sections vocal solo and country rock as well as achieving the highest score for a junior member of the Gore Country Music Club.
The Blue Mountain College pupil said it was her third year in the Gold Guitars.
"I really enjoy both singing and playing the guitar."
The 12-year-old said while she enjoyed competing in the vocal solo and gospel sections, and loved country music, country pop was her favourite genre.
The junior overall winner was the Two J's - Jade and Jenna Gibson, of Murchison - and the intermediate winner was Hannah Cosgrove, of Hamilton.
Results were.
Junior: Vocal solo, Molly Johnson (Tapanui); gospel, Molly Johnson (Tapanui); country rock, Jemma Gibson (Murchison); duet, The Two J's (Murchison); highest scoring Gore Country Music Club member, Molly Johnson (Tapanui); NZ Gold Guitar overall winner, The Two J's (Murchison).
Intermediate: Vocal solo, Hannah Cosgrove (Hamilton); gospel, Zoe Scott (Geraldine); country rock, Tiana Miti (Porirua); duet, Shannah & Jenny (Gore); instrumental, Jackson Larrivee (Te Anau); traditional, Liam Kennedy-Clark (Ashburton); New Zealand composition, Hannah Cosgrove (Hamilton); highest-scoring Gore Country Music Club member, Shannah & Jenny (Gore); NZ Gold Guitar overall runner-up, Zoe Scott (Geraldine); NZ Gold Guitar overall winner, Hannah Cosgrove (Hamilton).
-helena.dereus@alliedpress.co.nz
