• What is a Geoparks
• About the Geopark
• Visit the Geopark
• GeoActive
• Our amazing GeoStory
• Our GeoSites
• History and Heritage
• Biodiversity
• Geopark Management
• Partners and Members
• How to get to the Geopark
• Education

News from the Geopark

View of Thatcher Rock wins prize

A seal's-eye view of Torquay's Thatcher Rock has won the first English Riviera Geopark photographic competition.

Photographers were invited to submit shots of their favourite Geopark locations to tie in with the English Riviera Geopark Festival which closed at the weekend.

One of the judges, Tim Crine from Torquay Museum, said: "The standard of photography has been very high, but some pictures are really outstanding."

Entries were invited for three distinct themes: the natural environment, heritage, and work, rest and play.

Photographers were asked to provide a caption and could enter up to three pictures per theme.

The judges were looking for photographic skills and pictures that sum up the essence of the Geopark. They were photographers Ray Vyse, Julia Finzel and David Ayres, and for the Geopark Nick Powe of Kents Cavern, education officer Emily Beale and Tim Crine.

The winner overall was Thatcher Rock, A View from Down Under by Philip Halsted. He won a package of pampering from the Aztec Spa at the TLH Leisure Resort in Torquay.

He also won the natural environment category and a £25 meal at the Quayside Hotel, Brixham, a family ticket to Kents Cavern and a camera bag from Mifsuds, Brixham.

The runner-up was Cathie Hewitt with her picture of cliff-top flowers at Elberry Cove.

Winner of the heritage section was Melanie Cornish with Torquay at Night, of the bridge on Torquay seafront under a full moon. Her prize was a family ticket on Greenway Ferries around to Agatha Christie's Greenway House, with entry to this National Trust property. Runner-up was Liz Aston with Brixham Inner Harbour.

Winner of the work, rest and play category was Phil Hemsley with The Big Sand Pit, showing his daughter relishing the acres of sand along Paignton Beach. His prize is a family ticket to Torquay Museum together with a family ticket to Living Coasts, a free breakfast at the Tides Restaurant in Brixham and a camera bag from Mifsuds of Brixham.

Runner-up is Anna Keleher's Piggy Face-Pack showing the Occombe Farm pigs rooting for tubers.