Central Club Challenge 2023
This was held on Thursday, 9th March and was hosted, as it is each year, by Milton Keynes City Photographic Society (previously New City PS)
Usually about 12 clubs enter this competition, but numbers this year were inexplicably lower, with only 8 clubs taking part. The judge was Kathy Chantler ARPS, who some of you will recall judged our Monochrome Cup competition in December.
Each club entered 6 PDIs so, with only 8 clubs competing, there were only 48 images for Kathy to judge. At least this allowed for some decent critique of all the images. At the close of play, we were level with Biggleswade at the top of the table, but our tie-breaker scored 2 more points than theirs did, so we won!
I find it interesting – as some of you might – that having entered the same PDIs as we did for the 3-Way with Bedford (albeit 4 less) and with both Bedford and Biggleswade doing the same, we came out on top. Much the preferred result to the 3-Way!
Just a word about External Competitions generally. They showcase the very best images from the clubs taking part. If anyone wants to improve their photography (and we all do, don’t we?!) then seeing quality work from photographers in other clubs and listening to judges’ comments on them, is a very good way to learn and also to be inspired. In addition, you get to meet and chat with members from other local clubs, so there’s a social element to them as well.
We’ve now reached the end of the current session of External Competitions, with the next series starting again in the Autumn. I would encourage as many of you as possible to attend those – I’ll make sure you’re told about them in good time so that you can plan your diaries accordingly! In the meantime, I’d like to express my grateful thanks firstly to those members whose images have been used in the competitions and secondly to the members of the external competitions sub-committee for their help and dedication in the selection process.