Yellowknife (May 06/05) - North of 60 Junior Idol's two judges spent over half an hour deadlocked before deciding the final placements of the singers on Saturday night.

Only half a point out of 100 separated the top three contestants.

Amy Dillman and Alexis Ruettnauer clutch the plaques they were awarded by the Legion last Saturday night.

While locked away in the Legion office, Pete Ardley said he and fellow judge Morris Bishop pored over their scoring sheets with a calculator to determine the winners.

In the end, Alexis Ruettnauer, 11, won the title of Junior Idol. Amy Dillman, 11, was the runner-up.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem presented 10-year-old Janine Mayordo with a diamond on behalf of the City of Yellowknife for having the highest cumulative score.

Both judges gave Mayordo 50 out of 50 in the preliminary round two weeks ago for her rendition of You're the One That I Want, from Grease.

Former North of 60 Idol contestant Ardley said judging was "a lot harder" than singing.

Though there's no stagefright involved, judging has its own dangers.

"When you're on stage, you get up there and it's done," he said, joking that when you're a judge, "the tough part is knowing where to park so the parents don't slash your tires."

Marked on poise

Performers were marked on poise, stage presence, talent, voice and overall effect, with each element worth 10 points. Each contestant sang two songs.

Ruettnauer seemed much older than her 11 years when she got up and sang Why Not, by Hilary Duff, and later Hopelessly Devoted to You, from the Grease soundtrack, which was a good tactical choice.

Both judges admitted they had fond childhood memories of Olivia Newton-John.

Ruettnauer nailed the ballad, solidifying her first place position. As the winner, she took home a $500 scholarship from the Legion, a plaque, two watches, a travel bag, a backpack, clothing, $25 and a limousine ride to get it all home.

Second place was a tight race between Dillman and Chrissy Strand.

Dillman narrowly edged out Strand by delivering the country sounds of Strawberry Wine and Suds in the Bucket while friends waved a sign that read "You rock, Girlfriend."

Bishop, a lover of country music, became so enthused with Suds in the Bucket, he almost forgot to mark her.

"I never wrote down a darned thing," he said.

"That last note was amazing," said Ardley.

Dillman won a watch, a plaque, $25, two bags and two T-shirts.

To hold the Junior Idol contest in the Legion's club room, the organization had to get special permission from the Liquor Board. The bar in the club room remained closed for three Saturday nights in a row, dispensing only soft drinks and water to the minors and their family and friends who packed the hall.

Ardley said what amazed him most was the confidence of even the youngest performers. "The younger kids did better than the older ones," he said.