On Friday 16 September, the first ever Dog Photographer of the Year Competition held by the Kennel Club was judged at its offices in Mayfair.

The competition, which was launched at Crufts, was open to anyone and everyone and received a good response with many high quality photographs entered.

There were four categories; Dogs at Work, Dogs at Play, Dog Portrait and Man’s Best Friend - as well as a free competition for under 16s entitled; ‘I love dogs because…’.

A panel of five judges from a variety of backgrounds was chosen and after hours of judging, five finalists - one winner from each category - was picked and from these the winner of the Kennel Club’s Dog Photographer of the Year 2005 was chosen.

Clare Philips’ photograph of a terrier playing with a ball was chosen as the winner of the competition.

Rosemary Smart, Kennel Club Chief Executive and one of the judges of the competition, said;

"After a very difficult morning of judging entries, we reached the decision on the winning photograph because it was technically excellent. The shot was very natural, the dog was playing and enjoying itself and the photographer had managed to sum up the feeling of the dog, a real display of the passion the photographer felt for their subject."

The winning photographs and finalists from the competition will be displayed at Discover Dogs on the 12 and 13 November 2005 at Earls Court 2 and within the Kennel Club Art Gallery in Mayfair on 5 December 2005 until 27 January 2006. The winning photograph will also be used on the front cover of the Kennel Gazette and displayed at Crufts 2006.

The Dog Photographer of the Year competition is in aid of the Kennel Club Charitable Trust – ‘making a difference for dogs’.