THE shy smile of Lydia Pountney won the day as she clinched top place the Redditch Standard Baby of the Year 19 months to three years category.
Oscar Crombie was a very close runner up, his beaming smile swaying the judges too.
Once again our judges were headed by Domonique Lippett, marketing manager from the Kingfisher Shopping Centre, and if anything, judging was harder in this category than in the 0 to 18 months section.
“They all look so beautiful, and it’s so difficult to even draw up a shortlist,” she said.
In the end it came down to a casting vote with Lydia, aged two years and two months, nudging just ahead of two-year-old Oscar.
Ross Crawford, editor of the Redditch Standard said: “This has been such a successful competition this year and I’d like to thank all the mums and dads, carers and grandparents who entered the competition.
“Our public vote was overwhelming with thousands of votes cast and in the end it was so difficult for our judges to choose a winner.
“Our thanks go to them too and our congratulations to the winners and runners-up.”
The competition was run in conjunction with professional portrait photographer Andrea Powell.
First prize is a large canvas portrait of the winning baby plus a special gift, together worth £200, while the runner up will also receive a canvas portrait and a special gift together worth £100.
