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May 2023

Education

Ogden Crown Competition: Thousands vote for the winning design

Published: 3 May 2023, 17:19 BST

Updated: 3 May 2023, 19:54 BST

by Tamsin O'Brien

The standard of entries was high and the competition was fierce but the final decision was down to Stray Ferret readers.

The Ogden competition to design a crown fit for a King was won by 6 year old Max Boocock from Ripley Endowed Primary School and Alexander Tasevzki from the sixth form of Springwater School for children with a wide range of learning difficulties.

Around 130 children submitted entries for the competition to place their crowns in the window of Odgen Jewellers on James Street in Harrogate.

Six entries were short-listed by the judges and then it was left to the public to pick the two winners. Six and a half thousand people voted for their favourite.

Judge Robert Ogden said he was impressed with the winning designs.

"We were really amazed at the qualities of the entries and the variety- also the imagination of some of them. Max's entry is almost worthy of Philip Treacy. It's got that amazing flamboyance to it, it is a real fashion piece. We are thrilled for him. It looks wonderful next to the Imperial State Crown replica in the window.

"The high school entries were again a very difficult decision to choose the ones we thought stood out the most. I just loved the creativity of Alexander's - the way the shapes were created from his hands and just the wonderful gem work was done. The rubies are in sort of intersecting lines, it was just a really nice tasteful style with a modern twist. We nice to see next to our crown."

Max's mother Emily said her son wanted his crown to be joyful

"Max wanted his crown to be colourful and vibrant, he wanted everyone who comes across his crown to smile.

"He says it’s a different shape to most crowns you see and he thinks that is what makes it truly unique, he hopes one day that the King may actually wear it!!"

The winning crowns will be in the window until 13 May.