Ballaquayle Infants School has won an Isle of Man countryside-themed artwork competition for primary schools organised by Douglas Borough Council in association with the Society for the Preservation of the Manx Countryside.

The winning submission was from a 19-strong team of pupils aged between four and seven – The Painters and Decorators Group – who won ?150. Runner-up was year four Fairfield Primary School pupil Michael Melly, who received a ?100 prize.

Presenting the prizes at a reception at Douglas town hall Douglas Mayor Councillor David Ashford thanked the Society for the Preservation of the Manx Countryside for its support, expressed his delight at the number and high quality of entries and praised the Ballaquayle team’s ‘excellent collaborative effort’ that demonstrated not only their artistic talents but also their ability to work as a team.  Of Michael Melly’s painting he said it was ‘vibrant’ and evoked a strong sense of summer.

The Society’s president Charles Flynn said the competition had served as a means to raise the society’s profile among young people and demonstrated its wish to work with schools on green issues.

Photo caption - Douglas Mayor David Ashford with pupils from the Ballaquayle Infants School winning team, left to right, Amelia Simpson, seven, Alisha Callow, six and Isla Callow, five. Picture Andrew Barton