Canadian Doctor Scoops Top Tattoo Award

Edinburgh New Royal Infirmary Doctor, Andrew Trenholm, from Canada, has scooped top prize in the Tattoo's 13th annual Photographic Competition for 2002.

Andrew, 32, a resident of the Capital's Morningside district, was awarded first place and £500 for this prize-winning shot of the unique sight of 100 highland dancers from across the Commonwealth paying tribute to Her Majesty The Queen at last year's Tattoo.

The amateur lensman's winning photograph was taken with a Sony Digital Cybershot camera purchased duty-free at the Airport en-route to his new orthopaedic registrars job in Edinburgh.

"I thought my wife was having me on when she phoned me at work to tell me the news of my success in the photo contest," said the delighted national health service employee yesterday.

Competition Judges, Mark Owens, the Army in Scotland and official Edinburgh Tattoo photographer, together with former Scotsman Picture Editor, Stewart Boyd and retired photography Lecturer and former Tattoo Photographer, Brian Swinburne, examined some 300 entries submitted by visitors from 15 countries before agreeing on a winner.

"This awards scheme continues to recognise the sometimes overlooked abilities of amateur photographers. The standard has once again been excellent," remarked Mr Owens.

Second place and £250 went to Janet Stewart of Lenzie near Glasgow for her colourful shot of the New Zealand Army Band performing the Haka at the record-breaking 2002 event.

Mrs Stewart's husband, retired engineer Jack, won second place in the 2001 Competition and a Commendation in the 2002 contest.

Alan Moulson from Keighley in West Yorkshire took third place and collects £150 for his dramatic photograph of an Indian Cultural Group in action resplendent in magnificent ethnic apparel.

Highly Commended, Commended and Finalist prizes were also awarded as follows:

Highly Commended:

  • Mr Erik De Lombaert, Gentbrugge, Belgium
  • Dr Marc Allen Schwartz, Plantation, Florida, USA
  • Mr Jean-Jaques Clouin, Paris, France

Commended:

  • Mr Brian Gallocher, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Mrs Brenda Ellis, Atherston, Warwickshire
  • Mr Jack Stewart, Lenzie, Glasgow

Finalist:

  • Mr Gregory Lisiecki, Gdansk, Poland
  • Mr Juan Fernandez, Madrid, Spain
  • Ms Zoe Anne Gibson, Haarlem, The Netherlands

All winners receive two tickets for this year's Tattoo, a presentation certificate and a mounted enlargement of their prize entry.

It is anticipated that an exhibition of the winners' photographs will be held before this year's event (1-23 August 2003), when there will be another opportunity to win cash prizes worth £900.

Prints of the winning photographs are available on request.