Member scoops £500 and masterclass as winner of CLA photo competition winner

CLA member Mary Plank today (Thursday, 1 May 2008) received her prize as winner of the Country Land and Business Association Centenary Photographic Competition national award, sponsored by Smiths Gore.

CLA President Henry Aubrey-Fletcher and Smiths Gore partner Gerald Fitzgerald made the presentation at the CLA's headquarters in Belgrave Square, London.

 

Mrs Plank - pictured with Henry Aubrey-Fletcher (centre) and Mr Fitzgerald - of Bucklebury, Berkshire, received a canvas print of her winning image (top left), £500 and a day's photography tuition with leading professional photographer Charles Sainsbury-Plaice, of Agripix Rural Photography.

 

Her eye-catching photograph of her son Jeremy and his sheep - entitled First Snow, Bushnells Green Farm - was chosen as the best of nine regional winners in the competition. The judging panel included Jonathan Young, Editor of The Field, photographer Charles Sainsbury-Plaice, CLA President Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, and Smiths Gore partner Mark Fogden.

 

The judging panel then selected the overall regional winners for the year from all the photographs submitted, and Mrs Plank's photograph of sheep being fed on a snowy winter's day was judged the best of these.

 

The CLA President said: "This is the first time we've run this competition in conjunction with Smiths Gore, and it has been a great success. All the judges agreed that Mrs Plank's photograph told a real farming story about the relationship between a farmer and their livestock."

 

Mrs Plank said: "I usually grab the camera if it's snowing as it doesn't happen very often here - I am pleasantly surprised to win."

 

Mr Fitzgerald said: "Smiths Gore is delighted to sponsor this competition and hope that Mrs Plank enjoys her prizes."

 

From January last year, monthly winners were chosen by visitors to the Smiths Gore website, and each received a food hamper.

 

 

 

 MEDIA CONTACTS:

 

Oliver Wilson, Director of Communications, 020 7460 7936 or 07702 928828, ollie.wilson@cla.org.uk,

 

Phillippa Coates, Press Officer, 020 7460 7934, phillippa.coates@cla.org.uk

 

Out of hours duty phone: 020 7201 9511.

 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

 

1. To receive a copy of the winning image please contact Phillippa Coates.

 

2. The CLA – the rural economy experts - has a 36,000-strong membership. 

 

3. For more information about the CLA, visit: www.cla.org.uk