The Sandbar’s Got Talent grand final was held on Sunday afternoon and a huge crowed packed the venue.

Teenager Gavin Zacher, playing electric guitar, won the grand prize of $2000, while young entertainer Len Heil was a close second, winning $750, and third place went to popular band The Sharlans, who took home $250.

Also among the budding and talented stars were up and coming vocalist Billie-Lee Carruthers, a young trio called Mitch, Sam and Krystal, young Broken Hill performer Meg McMahon, skilled acoustic guitarist James Herberte and local singer Carly Hamence.

Zacher, 17, said he was surprised his guitar medley was a crowd-pleaser.

“I’ve been playing the electric guitar for about seven years now and I practised my act for about a month,” he said.

“I wasn’t really sure if I could place, the crowd seemed to enjoy the rock medley I performed which I was surprised with as rock isn’t too popular these days.

“It gave me confidence that the crowd liked it. The competition was really good, everyone was really talented.

“I’m planing on buying a new amplifier with the prize money, one that is bigger than me.’’

Runner-up Heil said he was one of the different acts of the afternoon.

“I performed an interpretive mime, which I had seen on Youtube and I just altered it with a few of my own dance moves.

“I just decided to enter off a limb, it was a comic performance.

“I didn’t mind if I didn’t place, my aim was just to get a laugh out of people.

“The crowd seemed to enjoy it so I was happy with my performance.

“I wore a red lycra suit and performed to Torn by Natalie Imbruglia,’’ he said.

This story appeared in Tuesday’s edition of Sunraysia Daily 07/09/2010.