Winners of the Stody ‘Young Talent’ Awards 2019!

Stody Lodge Gardens is delighted to announce the winners of The Stody ‘Young Talent’ Awards 2019. Now in its fifth year, this competition challenged budding artists from Years 4,5 and 6 at local primary schools to create A3 frameable artwork along the theme of ‘Rainbows.’ This theme was chosen to tie in with The Stody Rainbow Garden Party, an LGBT+ inclusive event, on Saturday 25th May.

Winners of the Stody Young Talent Awards 2019. From left to right: Isobel Coutanche, Harry McDougall and Lucy Detnon

The three winners from each year group were selected by Sarah Young, a freelance curator and exhibition and event organiser as well as a workshop leader in art and crafts for children and adults.

 Lucy Detnon of Gresham’s Preparatory School won the Year 4 category for her rainbow peacock which Sarah Young praised for being ‘full of character’ along with her fantastic use of colour.  

The year 5 category was won by Harry McDougall of Beeston Preparatory School. Sarah was impressed by his interpretation of the brief with his black globe with famous landmarks surrounded by rainbow flares. 

Isobel Coutanche of Gresham’s Preparatory School won the Year 6 category for her decision to transform a black and white creature, the zebra, into rainbow colours with fantastic expression. Sarah said, ‘he knows he’s gorgeous!’

Unable to only select three winners, one for each age group, Sarah also awarded Special Mentions to Katy Turner from Gresham’s Preparatory School (year 4), Tabitha Gurney from Beeston Preparatory School (year 5) and Zelie Birbeck from Beeston Preparatory School (year 6).

The finalists of the Stody Young Talent Awards 2019 were exhibited in the gardens on Sunday 5th May for the Stody ‘Kids for Kids’ Family Fun Day. Hundreds of Norfolk’s youngsters had a fantastic amount of fun with lots of animals and games in Stody Lodge’s magical 14-acre rhododendron and azalea gardens. Alongside the donkey rides, lots of traditional fete games, donkey rides, hair braiding, face painting and a treasure hunt, children loved playing with young kids in the goat enclosure and admired goslings, pigeon and bantam chicks, a giant rabbit, two ferrets and even a corn snake.  Duncan Jeary’s award-winning, magnificent cows bellowed their way through the afternoon next door to show-winning Suffolk sheep owned his sons Archie and Oscar as well prime specimens from Harvey Sillis’ herd. But the star of the show was still Stody’s Shetland, Mitch the Titch, who enjoyed a lovely groom from lots of little helpers.

In addition, The Holt Youth Centre served a sensational array of delicious cakes and teas. Through their teas, games on the lawn and additional donations, the charity raised a fantastic £1,500 on the day.

 Kate MacNicol of Stody Lodge Gardens, said: “The Stody ‘Kids for Kids’ Family Fun Day this year was bursting at the seams with wonderful birds and animals for the children to enjoy. The treasure hunt was really popular this year and enabled parents to wander around and enjoy our beautiful gardens. We also had a fantastic array of games and activities on the lawn which kept many kids entertained. We are delighted that the homemade teas and generous donations from many of those involved in the event raised £1,500 for The Holt Youth Centre.”