Last evening, Paula Russell won the Simon Hocking House of Travel Invitational Slow Melody at the 2009 New Zealand National Championships.

The event was held in the quaint setting of Mission Estate Winery.

With a sensational acoustic, the ex-church hall was near capacity with approximately 200 people attending the event.

Paula chose to play 'Meditation' from Thais.

Second place went to Riki McDonnell playing 'Hail Ancient Walls', and third place was awarded to Tyme Marsters on Flugel who played 'Rusalka's Song to the Moon'.

Adjudicators for the evening were Professor David King, Selwyn Holmes and Mark Oldershaw.