A Teddy Bear Experience 2008

Thank you to all who took part in our Teddy Bear competition. We hope that you enjoyed the fun of finding that special location for taking a winning picture.

Earlier in the year, for a donation of £5 to church funds, entrants received a special Teddy Bear and a numbered certificate to take on their holidays, with the chance to win exciting prizes in three categories.

Our judges have deliberated and we are now able to announce the results of A TEDDY BEAR EXPERIENCE 2008!


Class A - The greatest distance from the U.K.

This class had a large number of entries from America and Canada, with one teddy bear having its own document to prove it successfully crossed Alaska's Arctic Circle. Our first and second bears both went to Australia but even then the difference between them was nearly 2,000 miles. It was also very close between China and South Africa, as to which was the furthest as the crow flies, the difference being just 200 miles.

The winner:
Teddy Bear 12 owned by Pat Peirce.
Distance = 10,495 miles
2nd:
Teddy Bear 46 owned by Hazel Rowe.
Distance = 8,541 miles
3rd:
Teddy Bear 7 owned by Daphne Scarff.
Distance = 5,894 miles

Class B - Most unusual surrounding

Our judges in this class were asked to look at all the pictures and mark them high if they could tell just from the surroundings where the entry was taken. Then they could use any written documentation sent with the photos to make their final choice of winners. We had entries taken all over the world and many from the U.K. A teddy bear broadcast from the studios of BBC Radio 2 and from a talking newspaper conference. They flew in helicopters, sailed on ships, sat by lakes and sea-shores and went on cultural visits to name just a few of the destinations.

The winner:
Teddy Bear 0 owned by Leonie Robinson.
"Abseiling at Ipswich hospital maternity block"
2nd:
Teddy Bear 35 owned by Mervyn Gamage.
"First bear on the moon!!"
3rd:
Teddy Bear 28 owned by John & Joan Seaborn.
"Reading the times magazine, while taking the waters of the dead sea"

Class C - Most interesting picture

Our judges from Stowmarket Camera Club were asked to choose the three pictures which appealed to them. The selection of entries being as diverse as the locations and subject matter. Canada provided many interesting pictures as did the seaside and mountains. We also had one of our bears taking his A levels, another tried to keep the peace between Ipswich and Norwich football fans from one family. Whilst another sailed the seas.

The winner:
Teddy Bear 3 owned by Keith Scarff.
"Visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris"
2nd:
Teddy Bear 35 owned by Mervyn Gamage.
"Going, going, gone! the hazards of charity fundraising" (no bears were hurt in the production of this photo!)
3rd:
Teddy Bear 25 owned by Anne Watsham.
"Teddy Bears Picnic"

Thanks to Bacton Bears at Jeffries of Bacton, Hicks of Stowmarket, PPG Stowmarket, Elton House News, Needham Market and The East Anglian Daily Times, Ipswich who kindly donated the prizes, including a Steiff Bear.