Annual photography competition winners

Wednesday 3 February 2010

Chris Bonnington from Hamilton and Andrew Seeds from West Yorkshire are the winners of this year's annual photographic competition.

Chris and Andrew's images came top out of 573 entries from nearly 100 entrants for the 2009/10 competition.

First place and overall competition winner Chris won with his waterfall entry 'Cascades' taken at Sandford near Strathaven. Chris's entry was in the adult section in Category 3 - Scenes: Rural / Landscapes. Along with his award certificate, Chris was also presented with an engraved glass plaque and a Nikon D3000 camera.

And 13-year-old Andrew won his first place and overall junior winner title after submitting his entry 'Ancient and Modern' - photographed in the Palace Grounds in Hamilton. His entry was in Category 2 - Scenes: Towns / Villages. Andrew was presented with an award certificate, an engraved glass plaque and a Nikon Coolpix camera.

Now in its sixth successful year, the competition, which is organised by the council's Countryside Ranger Service, is open to all residents and visitors to South Lanarkshire.

There are junior and adult sections with eight entry categories in each section. All images entered into the competition must have been taken in South Lanarkshire within the last five years. Entry categories this year included: People at Work / Traditional Skills; Scenes - Towns / Villages; Scenes: Rural / Landscape; A Great Day Out; Wildlife: Animals, including birds etc; Wildlife: Plants including fungi; Active Sports / Pastimes and Country Parks / Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve.

Councillor Gerry Convery, the chair of the council's Community Resources Committee, who presented the awards, said: "This competition has gone from strength to strength over the years. Thanks must go to all who have helped make this such a successful and growing annual event.

"I am delighted to see so many entries this year from locals and visitors alike and from so far a-field too. Congratulations to the winners. Choosing them from such an excellent array of entries were very hard indeed. I would urge visitors to come along and see the full exhibition of all entries."

The images are now on public display in the Cadzow Gallery at Chatelherault Country Park, Ferniegair, until Sunday 28 March. Thereafter, the winning entries will be exhibited at East Kilbride Arts Centre, Old Coach Road, from Friday 10 April until Sunday 16 May 2010.