Judges Comments

There were quite a lot of very fine sports photos in this category, pictures we would be most happy to come back with from a game for the next day's paper. Lots of thrill of victory/agony of defeat in the same frame. They have some emotional volleyball teams in this region! First place had that very rare combination of a scramble for a loose ball, with the player's helmet off and a great expression on his face while the scramble for the ball is still going on. Second, we know it will raise some eyebrows, but we selected the sled dog and handler is a moment before a training session because it was such an unusual scene set against a pitch black night. Third, we liked the gatorade pour, but many judges were troubled with not being able to see the coach's face. There was a moment before this where the water was higher, before the coach ducked his head, that would have been a better moment. Did no one come to the game? The stands are empty. We wonder.