AN ELLESMERE tree hunter met the Eurovision entrants for Czech Republic while visiting the country.
Rob McBride was in Prague on a European Tree of the Year trip in February taking part in a live Saturday morning chat show when he met girl band, Vesna who were taking part in an interview after competing to be the Czech entrant for Eurovision.
Vesna subsequently won the competition and went on to make it through the semi-final and will compete in the final in Liverpool on Saturday, May 13.
Rob hopes to see them do well.
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He said: "It was a very brief meeting. We had a quick chat and a selfie.
"I wished Vesna luck and they wished me luck with my interview and they want on after.
"I think it was two days later, they were awarded the Czech Eurovision competition.
"I've had a listen to the song, 'My Sister's Crown' and it's very nice."
Czech Republic was the second country in Europe Rob visited while he was on his European Tree of the Year Trip.
He said: "I visited 10 countries.
"The Czech pre-entry was brilliant and I got taken back into Prague by one of the directors of a large company and dropped off at the TV studios.
"The ladies were all excited. It was a quick meeting."
Rob spoke about wanting to meet the group near Sir Paul McCartney's old home.
He said: "I wanted to meet the group near Sir Paul McCartney's house in Allerton.
"There is one of the oldest Oak trees in the country. The Allerton oak is just down the road in the park there."
Rob said he would be cheering the group on following the brief meeting in Prague and admitted he hadn't been interested in the competition in previous years.
He added: "I will be cheering Vesna on. Austria and Poland are very strong.
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"It is really weird for me to be talking about Eurovision because I am not that interested in it.
"But this year it is different because met Vesna who got through the semi-finals and with it being in Liverpool."
The Eurovision Final 2023 will take place on Saturday, May 13 at 8pm in the Liverpool Arena and will be broadcast on BBC One.
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