Sidmouth vs Honiton Battle 26
- Mar 22
- 2 min read
Report by Jo Bird - External Competitions Secretary
Last Friday, 20th March, members of Sidmouth Photographic Club made the short trip to Honiton for the much-anticipated annual showdown with Honiton Camera Club. This year, Honiton played host, and 15 keen (and quietly competitive!) SPC members turned up, ready for an evening of photography, friendly rivalry, and - let’s be honest - excellent cake.
The judging duties fell to the ever-popular John Baker, a familiar face to both clubs. Right from the start, John made it clear he wasn’t going to have an easy time of it, praising the exceptionally high standard of work on display. With each image scored out of 10, the tension was on from the very first round.
The evening opened with 20 prints spanning a variety of themes - Landscape, Mono, Portrait, Nature, and Creative. There were even bonus points up for grabs for the top three images, adding an extra layer of excitement. Sidmouth got off to a strong start, with Bob Reynolds taking first place and Jo Bird securing third. After the print round, SPC had edged into the lead, 73 points to Honiton’s 68.
Then came a highlight of the evening: Honiton’s legendary cream tea. Both clubs took the chance to relax, chat, and enjoy some well-earned refreshments.
Refuelled and ready, it was time for the digital images (DPIs). First up were the themed categories - Forgotten, Fungi, In the Middle, the Periodic Table, and Wheels - followed by the open section, featuring 15 images from each club. John, clearly enjoying the evening as much as everyone else, was generous with his scores and even broke with tradition by awarding first, second, and third places in both the themed and open sections.
This is where Sidmouth really hit their stride. With standout images from Bob Reynolds, Teresa Jacombs, Andy Carmichael, Jo Hawes and Suzanne Parsons, SPC swept the board, picking up all the top positions. It was, in the end, a decisive victory.
Final score: Sidmouth 285, Honiton 242.
A huge thank you goes out to all the talented photographers at Sidmouth Photographic Club, whose creativity and variety made for such a strong showing - and such an enjoyable evening. Until next year…
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