Right, it’s been a hellishly difficult thing to do, but the judges (Myself Bob, Phil Griffin, David Evans, Linda Mason, Phil Griffin, the young David Evans and the Wee Pickle) have pondered and head scratched in the last week to find the winners and runners up of the BrownhillsBob/Brownhills Blog 2020 New Year Photo Competition.

I’d like to thank all entrants for their patience, and for their wonderful, beautiful entries. If you haven’t won, our commiserations, but there were so many brilliant images it was a very tough task. Yet again we were astounded and very proud of the very creative, talented folk out there. You’re all fantastic.

You can see the entire gallery of entries by clicking here.

If you were unlucky, there will be, I hope, a similar competitions over the midsummer and next Christmas (time allowing).

The winners, who each win a mini keg (8.8 pints) of Backyard Brewhouse ale which is brewed in Brownhills to great acclaim – (you’ll have to collect from the Brewery in Lichfield Road) are Brett Riordan, Dave Tucker, David Burns, Elaine Massey, Kym Waterson-Green and Nigel Frost . We all agreed these were superb images that conveyed the spirit of competition and group.

If winners are teetotal or too far away we’ll sort something out.

The runners up will each receive a book prize: I have a selection of used but good condition books on local history or local themes and I’ll pass the list around: Pick the one you want and I’ll post it to you. Runners up are Jan Davis, Jodie Bordas, Julie Horton, Kathryn Grace, Lucy O’Hare, Natalie Fitzpatrick and Sam Williams. Again, all are excellent images. It was very hard choosing winners.

Sam Williams was an extra, honorary running up for a great feel good image and a fantastic anniversary. Well done mate. Onwards and upwards.

My thanks to my fellow judges with whom I burden this responsibility every time: They are fantastic and very patient. My appreciation is huge.

I will be in touch over the next week or so with prize winners – please bear with me as I’ve not paid for the beer yet and I’ll need to know what they have available at the moment and what your choice is. Sorting out the prizes is always a fairly long process. Please be patient 🙂

Prizes are as ever, are funded out of my own pocket – there are no sponsors and no funny stuff, this is purely for the community and the fun of it. The judges decision is final.

This competition has been for enjoyment and good feeling, thank you all for being so wonderfully community spirited, and for sharing the very best of what you found. It’s been a blast.

Thank you everyone.