Top of the tots winners revealed in Press competition

11:50am Sunday 20th July 2008

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THE winners of our Top Of The Tots competition to discover who is the bonniest of them all have been revealed, after more than 4,000 readers voted for their favourite tot. The voting was very close this year – but we can now unveil your top tots for 2008. Kian Ellis, of New Earswick, York, won the 0-18 month category.

His mother, Beckie Ellis, 25, said: “I’m very, very excited for him.

“My family voted a lot, I voted a lot, my granddad got his friends to vote for him as well – we’re all very excited for him.”

She said she believed Kian, who is now just over 18 months old, won the category because he was “gorgeous”.

“It’s the first competition that he’s entered,” she said. “We’re very proud.”

Brooke Thomas-Durrant, of Clifton Moor, York, who goes to First Steps at Roko Gym, in Clifton Moor, was voted the top tot in the 18 months to three years category.

Her mother, Claire Thomas-Durrant, 32, who works in the accounts department at computer company Azlan, in Clifton Moor, said: “I am just extremely excited that she’d won it.

“I’m really chuffed because I think she’s beautiful and I think she deserved it, because she’s got absolutely perfect features. She’s got beautiful striking eyes.

“All of her family were really, really happy that she’d done it.” And three-and-a-half-year-old Shannon Stobbs, of Strensall, near York, who attends Polyannas Preschool, in Haxby, near York, claimed victory in the three to five years category.

Shannon’s mother, Helen Smith, 29, a barmaid at Haxby Working Mens’ Club, said: “I’d just like to say thank you very much to everybody who’s voted for her and I’m really happy.”

Helen said she was “very proud” of Shannon.

She said her daughter was “very out-going, she loves to be with her friends and is interested in learning new things”.

Helen said: “She enjoys going to pre-school so she benefits a lot from there,” she said. “She loves all her family.”

The Press gave readers the chance to put their youngsters forward by having them photographed professionally, with parents choosing which picture would be entered into the competition.

The images were printed in a supplement in The Press, and readers had the opportunity to vote for their favourite tot.

The winners will receive a canvas print of the prize-winning photo, courtesy of The Portrait Group.

*Pictures available on page 20 of The Press, Saturday, July 19, 2008