Tadley teen's photograph cat-egorical winner

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The picture of Nala the kitten, taken by 13-year-old Lily Doidge, was voted a winner at a fundraising photographic competition organised and judged for the sixth year by Aldermaston photographers David and Marion Canning, at the 2013 Cats Protection’s Basingstoke & District Branch Cat Spring Fair, at the Ambrose Allen Centre, Franklin Avenue.
The competition attracted 44 entries from a wide area, but Lily’s photograph secured the majority of visitors’ votes and also proved a huge hit with the Cannings who, said Mr Cannings, “fell in love with it at once.
“Having seen it up on the board beaming at us all the afternoon, we decided to give it best in the content category.”
The photograph will now be used on next year’s cover of a calendar produced for the last two decades by the Cannings, who donate 50p from each sale to Cats Protection.
Lily, a pupil at The Hurst Community College, Baughurst, said that the seven-week-old kitten belonged to her best friend Eden Angus, and she had become interested in photography after borrowing her uncle’s camera, before buying her own.
“I didn’t expect to win the competition because all the other entrants were much older than me,” said Lily.
In second place came Kay Grindell from Hove, with Laura Haystaff from Old Basing, third. All the winners received certificates and small prize.
Mr Canning said that the high standard of entries made judging the second competition category of quality difficult, and entries were ruled out for even “the slightest out-of-focus whisker”.
However, Kay Grindell was the winner of this category, with Karen Campbell from Old Basing in second place and Caroline McKane from Basingstoke third.
The Cannings presented the branch co-ordinator of Cats Protection, Hilary Wells, with a cheque for £215 at the fair. This was made up from money the couple have raised at model railway exhibitions, proceeds from the calendars and £44 raised by the entry fees to the photogaphic competition.
Mrs Wells thanked the Cannings and said that the fair was one of their best events – “well supported and well received”.
The fun-packed fair, for which entry fees were 50p, or a tin of cat food, raised £1,015 to support the charity in its work of finding new homes for abandoned cats.
The charity will also have a stand at Tadley Treacle Fair on Sunday, June 2.
The Cannings are still seeking photographs of cats for next years calendar, to enable them to continue their fundraising efforts for the Basingstoke and District Cat Protection charity - contact David and Marion Cannings telephone 0118 9815678 email dandmcanning@hotmail.co.uk