We were recently invited to join in this 4 way competition with the camera clubs of Rottingdean (our hosts) Southwick and Steyning and 4 of our members attended. Each club submitted 10 images which were shown and marked in random order – which made it difficult to work out where we stood as the evening progressed – rather like a 400 metre race where the leader is not revealed until the bend has unwound.
Trever Gellard FRPS was the judge – our best of year judge this season - and he is very hot on technical matters but much appreciates unusual, out of the ordinary images – and he does like a witty and apt title!
Southwick, Steyning and ourselves used the same set of photographs as were used in the Crouch Shield the previous Friday with a couple of extras to make up the set of 10 – Rottingdean are not in the Crouch competitions.
Being the new kids on the block it would have been a little impertinent to win the trophy at the first attempt but we took a very respectable second with 182 points out of the 200 maximum. A slight downside was that the old enemy, Steyning, were victorious with 186 points making a notable double as they had won the Crouch competition three days before. They have a very strong hand this year – so congratulations to them on a well-deserved victory. Southwick were third with 180 with Rottingdean on 175. Best entry of the evening is not judged in this competition.
Our pictures scored as follows :-
| Bee Eaters and Dragon Fly | Anne Nagle | 19 |
| Yellow | Jane Coward | 16 |
| Looking Down the Long Mile | Ray Foxlee | 17 |
| Des Res | Ray Foxlee | 17 |
| Wet feet in the Frame | Jane Coward | 18 |
| Derelict Shed | David Seddon | 20 |
| Lake View | David Seddon | 19 |
| Wish I had a Finger | Alex Swyer | 20 |
| Wild Swan Anenome | Anne Nagle | 18 |
| Squash | Alex Swyer | 18 |
Congratulations to everyone and special mention to David and Alex for their perfect 20’s – Trevor doesn’t give those out lightly.
A very pleasant and sociable evening – a welcome addition to our external competition agenda – please try and come along next time. A facility with arithmetic in the dark is necessary for whoever writes the report though!