Celtic Challenge - Stirling 2017

The Celtic Challenge is a chance for the Celtic countries to get together over a weekend and compete for the Celtic Challenge Trophy. The Countries that come together annually are Scotland, Isle of Man, Cornwall, Eire, Northern Ireland, Wales, North Wales and occassionally Brittany. Many of these countries are Federations in their own right, but a few are members of other PAGB Federations, the common link is our Celtic heritage.

In November 2017, the Scottish Photographic Federation hosted the Celtic Challenge Competition over the weekend of the 18th and 19th Nov. 

As well as the competition itself, which will was Judged by Gwen and Phil Charnock, the weekend featured a lecture by Colin Trow-Poole as well as an opportunity for some photography with an organised outing or two, and a dinner to present all of the results and awards.

Details were added here for the visitors from the participating countries and also for any SPF members who were interested in attending. 

2017 Results

The Judges for the day were Gwen and Phil Charnock from Wigan. They had a tough job with an excellent selection of Prints and Digital Images for them to Judge. All of the seven Celtic nations had photos that scored the maximum 20 points making it a tighly fought competition.

After all the photos had been Judged; The Irish PF twere to win the Mono Print section by one point, but the Scottish PF took both the Colour Print and Digital Image sections to win the trophy back, with the Northern Ireland PA finishing in 2nd place just 2 points ahead of the IPF who finished third.

In the individual awards Ken Lindsay from the SPF won the Best Colour Print with 'Hope'; Des Clinton from the IPF won the Best Mono Print for 'Pig Fair', and Damian O'Malley from the IPF won Best Digital and Best Overall with 'Man's Best Friend'.

The full Celtic Challenge 2017 Results for 2017 are available to download below.

A full gallery of the SPF's winning entry can be viewed if you (click here) .

2017 Event

The Scottish Photographic Federation were delighted to host the Celtic Challenge 2017. This was a chance to catch up with the many friends we have in the ‘Celtic’ group of Federations, Associations and Societies, over the weekend of 18th and 19th Nov, and take part in the Celtic Challenge Competition 2017. The main events took place on Saturday 18th November 2017 at Stirling Court Hotel, Airthrey Road, University of Stirling FK9 4LA.

Celtic Challenge Competition - The Judges were Phil and Gwen Charnock from L&CPU. On Saturday 18th Nov we also held a Celtic Challenge Print Lecture by Colin Trow-Poole MPAGB, FRPS, FIPF. The presentation dinner followed this.

You can find out more about this event by visiting the extra webpage (click here)

A very big thankyou to this year's sponsors of the event who have all given generously in the form of raffle prizes. Please support these companies, who help us keep the cost of the event down to our member Clubs - Click on the following links to visit their websites -

Nomad Cases - Boxes for Photographic Prints

Ffordes Photographic - Photographic Equipment supplier and Second Hand Equipment Specialist, Beauly 

Permajet - Paper and Ink Manufacturer and Supplier

Fotospeed - Paper and Ink Manufacturer and Supplier

Burning Pine - Business Communications Experts

Johnstons of Elgin - World Leaders in Cashmere and Woollens