Making a splash: The worthy winner of our photography competition

ALAN BETSON, JUDGE:

We asked you to capture and send us your magical summer moments. We got a huge response, as more than 1,500 images were submitted. The tough part was editing this down to a top 30 best-of-the-best selection. From donkeys to deer and from sunsets to splash landings, you have captured the essence of the Irish summer with beautiful observation and magical moments.

We can have only one winner, however, and the prize goes to a perfectly timed Irish summer moment. Josephine Kane's image of her daughter, Jessica, in their back garden in Navan, Co Meath, has transformed the ordinary into the extraordinary. Congratulations, Josephine, and thank you to all who entered. Josephine wins a Canon EOS 100D Digital SLR Camera (RRP €549).
 
 
A WORD FROM THE WINNER
The picture is of Jessica (6) in our back garden in Navan, Co Meath. It was taken on July 19th. We had returned from Spain the day before – our first "hot holiday" in six years. Jessica was so delighted with our Irish heatwave (the temperature was 27 degrees that day) that she wanted to continue her swimming-pool fun in our garden. The photo captures her trying to soak her brothers, Jack and Tom, with her L'Oréal-style "I'm worth it" hair flicks.