Didcot and District Woodturners Club

Didcot and District Woodturners Club run a variety of competitions to challenge members, and encourage and inspire them to improve their design skills and turning ability

Beginners

Intermediate

Jaanuary 2026 Competition Winners

Advanced

Turner of the Year Competition

This is an annual competition in monthly stages based on the competition theme set by the committee. The Competition theme is shown in the Club Programme.

Currently, three tables will be set up each month, one for "Beginners", one for "Intermediate" turners and one for "Advanced" turners. Turners will remain in the same category for the full competition year, September to August.

Entries should be placed on the tables at the beginning of each meeting and the members will choose a winner by placing a token next to their favourite piece in each category before or during the tea break. Tokens will be on the competition tables.

Points will be awarded for 1st (5 points), 2nd (3 points) and 3rd (2 points) places which will accumulate through the year. All unplaced entries will be awarded 1 point.

At the AGM, the member with the most points in each category will be declared the winner and receive the 'Turner of the Year' shield. The shield will be held for the year and returned before the next AGM.

Turner of the Year Guidelines

Having run the competition for several years now a few guidelines have been set:.

Each member is allowed one entry per month.

On some occasions a member may feel his/her entry is rather fragile and be concerned about possible breakage. A few 'Do Not Touch' notices are held by the club treasurer for use in such cases. Members are asked to respect the notice and not pick up such entries.

If entries are picked up for closer examination please make a special note of where it was on the table and put it back in the same place. i/e. next to the tokens that have abready been placed next to it.

Please vote for just one piece in each section of the competition and place your token close to it.

Turner of the Year Competition Results (2024/2025)

The August Club Night was the last competition of 2024/2025 competition year so now we know who our Turners of the Year were.

Beginners - Angus Mylles

Intermediate - Harry Butcher

Advanced - Mike Wrottesley

The number of members entering the monthly competition is stunning.
We have had thirty-two different members entering an item in the Didcot Woodturners "Turner of the Year" competition..
Most woodturning clubs can only dream of having more than 50% of their membership entering their competitions.

So the challenge for this year is for all those who only entered on one or two Club Nights to get more entries in and challenge for Turner of the Year in their category.

The Presidents Challenge Competition

The challenge is an annual event that closes at the end of the August meeting each year. It will have an open theme so you can enter any one piece you wish. The only criteria is that it has been made within the last year

Currently there are two sections for the competition. One for beginners and one for the advanced. ( You decide which category you belong in )

Judging will be done by the committee (minus any members with an entry in the competition) at the September committee meeting.

At the AGM the winner of a 'beginners' and 'more experienced' categories will be awarded a shield to be held for one year and returned before the next AGM.

These 'trophies' have kindly been donated by the president of the Ox & Bucks wood carving club.

The absolute deadline for entry into this challenge will be the end of the August meeting.

All entries will be photographed and displayed on the Gallery page.

Presidents Trophy Results (2024/2025)

At the Didcot Woodturners AGM we hold a competition for the Presidents Trophy

Beginners - Ian Wood

Intermediate - Dave Butler

Advanced - Kevin Blackman