Members were unable to gather for the annual celebratory meal when Picture of the Year 2020 awards were announced on Thursday evening, but nevertheless gathered virtually to applaud the winners.

Judge, John Scaife, attended and took the time to appreciate every image entered with sensitive feedback and well received

advice. It was satisfying to see that the 2020 winning entries were spread throughout, and that many of the images had been captured either on our Lockdown Walks or in the Weekly Challenges.

Jill Toman took first place in both the Landscape and Action categories, whilst Graham Nicholls won the Portrait section, and Janice Cuer the category ‘Other’. The overall winning

Picture of 2020 was Graham’s portrait of ‘Canal Boatman’. Those who regularly enter competitions throughout the year accrue points towards the trophies awarded for Mono and Colour and Jill Toman is to be congratulated for her consistency in both categories, winning each with totals over 50. It was a well-attended evening that celebrated the best of 2020.

The results in full are as follows: Landscape – 1st: ‘Early Morning in Belvedere’ Jill Toman, 2nd: ‘Fog on the Tyne’, Janice Cuer, 3rd ‘Storm Coming’, Diana Walker. Portrait – 1st: ‘Canal Boatman’, Graham Nicholls, 2nd: ‘Man on Mobile’, Jenny Short, 3rd: ‘Line of Beauty’, Pamela Bruce Lockhart.

Action – 1st: ‘Exercising’, Jill Toman, 2nd: ‘Riding The Wave’, Jane Richardson, 3rd: ‘Joy of the Chase’, Jenny Short. Other – 1st: ‘Bluebell Wood’ Janice Cuer, 2nd: ‘Raspberry Splash’, Tony Nineham, 3rd: ‘Bewitched’ Graham Nicholls. Picture of the Year was Graham Nicholls’ ‘Canal Boatman’.

In year competitions in Mono: 1st Jill Toman 50 points, 2nd Graham Nicholls 36 points and 3rd Janice Cuer 26 points. Colour: 1st Jill Toman 57 points, 2nd Jenny Short 36 points, 3rd Diana Walker 31 points. The Margot Witcombe trophy, normally awarded for the most popular photo in the annual exhibition will be awarded in April for the most popular photo placed in an online club gallery, voted for by paid-up members for 2021.

J. Short