Sidmouth Shines at the WCPF Inter Club Competition

Report by Jo Bird, External Competitions Secretary

Last Sunday (8th Feb), the WCPF Inter Club Competition (ICC) took place at Exeter Corn Exchange, bringing together photography clubs from across the South West. The event features two separate contests - prints and digital projected images (DPIs) - with clubs from the WCPF region competing for top honours. Sidmouth Photographic Club enters this prestigious competition every two years, and SPC Chairperson Karen Brindley and I were delighted to attend the judging in person.

The day began with the print competition, where 24 clubs competed for the chance to represent the WCPF at the PAGB National Championship. Each club submitted 15 prints, judged by a panel of three selectors who each awarded a score out of five, giving a maximum possible score of 15 per image.

Sidmouth delivered an outstanding performance, finishing 4th overall with 183 points, just two points shy of 3rd place - a fantastic achievement in such a strong field.

The following images each scored an impressive 14 out of 15:

• Suzanne Parsons - Silver Studded Blue and Ant

• Bob Reynolds - Wistful

• Jo Bird - Tunnel of Triangles

Congratulations go especially to Bob Reynolds, who received a Selector’s Award for his print, Wistful.

Selectors Award (Print) - Bob Reynolds 'Wistful'

After lunch, attention turned to the DPI competition, which saw 41 clubs take part. This time, each club submitted 18 digital images, judged using the same scoring system.

Sidmouth placed 18th overall. While many of the highest scoring images across the competition were nature-focused - an area that is not traditionally our club’s strongest - this still represents a very creditable result.

Notable individual achievements included:

• Paul Newman - Sidmouth Groyne scored 14 and received a Highly Commended award

Highly Commended (DPI) - Paul Newman 'Sidmouth Groyne'

The following DPIs each scored 13:

• Jo Bird - Mosque Reflections

• Paul Newman - Beer Fleet

• Bob Reynolds - Blusher Fungi with Gastropods

• Bob Reynolds - Golden Scalycap Fungi & Caterpillar

A huge thank you goes to the club’s selection committee - Tony Spooner, Bob Reynolds, and Graham Lennox - for their careful and thoughtful choices that led to such strong results. And, of course, sincere thanks to all club members for producing the wonderful images that made this success possible.

Suzanne Parsons - Silver Studded Blue with Ant (Print)

Jo Bird - Tunnel of Triangles (Print)

Jo Bird - Mosque Reflections (DPI)

Paul Newman - Beer Fleet (DPI)

Bob Reynolds - Blusher Fungi with Gastropods (DPI)

Bob Reynolds - Golden Scalycap Fungi & Caterpillar (DPI)