Today marked a major milestone for Stroud Camera Club as we competed in the Western Counties Photographic Federation (WCPF) Annual Inter-Club Championship, held in Exeter. This prestigious event brings together photographic clubs from across the region to compete at the highest level, and the 2026 championship proved to be one of the most memorable in the club’s history.

The championship is split into two sections: Print and Digital. In the Print Championship, each club submits 15 mounted prints (which must include a set number of mono images), while the Digital Championship requires 18 digital images. This year, 24 clubs entered the Print section and an impressive 41 clubs competed in the Digital section, highlighting both the scale and the competitiveness of the event.

Each image is viewed and scored independently by three judges, with marks ranging from 1 to 5 from each judge. The individual scores are then totalled to determine the overall club placings. Against this backdrop of strong competition, Stroud Camera Club delivered an outstanding performance.

We are thrilled to report that Stroud Camera Club achieved 3rd place in the Print Championship and 5th place in the Digital Championship. These are the highest combined placings the club has ever achieved in this event. Competing against much larger clubs such as Bristol and Dorchester, and with a membership of just 50 photographers, this represents an extraordinary achievement and a testament to the quality, consistency, and dedication of our members.

A special mention must go to Richard Atkinson, who received a Selector’s Award for his image The Lookout. To gain individual recognition at this level is no small feat, and Richard’s success reflects both his own skill and the high standard of work being produced across the club.

Perhaps the most exciting outcome of all is that our 3rd place finish in the Print Championship qualifies Stroud Camera Club to represent the WCPF at the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB) Inter-Club Print Championship in October. This is a remarkable first for our club and an achievement that many far larger clubs aspire to. It marks a significant moment in Stroud Camera Club’s history and places us firmly on the national stage.

Credit for this success is shared widely. Particular thanks must go to Roger Matthews, who once again led the Selection Committee with care, experience, and a steady hand. The selection process is never easy, and Roger’s commitment ensures that the strongest possible panels are put forward year after year.

Finally, this achievement would not be possible without the many club members who regularly enter images into our internal competitions. These competitions form the backbone of our championship selections, encouraging high standards, healthy competition, and continual improvement. Every entry contributes to the strength and depth of the club’s photographic output.

The authors and images selected for the championships are listed below. Congratulations to everyone involved—this is a result we can all be immensely proud of, and an exciting step forward for Stroud Camera Club.

Prints

• Jeff Wilson The Portrait in Black and White (12)


• Francis Mridha Starry Night (11)


• Leslie Holmes Jaguar The Pantanal, Brazil (14)


• Richard Atkinson The Lookout (14) Selector award


• Trish Bloodworth Warrior (13)


• Annie Blick Touching the Cube, Birmingham (11)


• Trish Bloodworth Companions (12)


• Trish Bloodworth Leeds Granary Wharf Area (11)


• Roger Matthews Diced Carrot (14)


• Jeff Wilson The Girl with the apple (10)


• Rene Cason All action over the jump (14)


• Mick West Occulus Fast and Slow (12)


• Mark Halling Wet Fox (13)


• Roger Matthews Looking to the past (10)


• Rene Cason Jays fighting with an audience (14)

Digital

• Jeff Wilson The blue dress (12)


• Leslie Holmes Breaching Humpback, Alaska (10)


• Francis Mrhida Serenity (10)


• Trish Bloodworth Mending the world (13)


• Roger Matthews Landing on the colony (14)


• Francis Mrhida Rugged (13)


• Rene Cason Red squirrel mid flight (14)


• Annie Blick Textures of the tide (13)


• Mark Halling Tackle (12)


• Jeff Wilson The Apple (10)


• Annie Blick the Severn Wrecks (12)


• Mick West Rain in Times Square (12)


• Annie Blick Red and Blue (10)


• Annie Blick Night Running (12)


• Mick West Chicago (12)


• Trish Bloodworth A quiet moment (10)


• Mark Halling Spitting feathers (12)


• Rene Cason Violet Tailed Sylph (14)