The Birmingham Post’s annual share-tipping competition drew to a dramatic close as the second-place runner nosed ahead at the last minute to rack up a whopping 1214.29 per cent gain.

Alex Fullard of Arden Partners romped to the top with his choice of car dealership firm Pendragon, which has received a big boost from the government car scrappage scheme in the past year.

But just behind him in second place, Andrew Powell of W H Ireland had the glittering prize – a magnum of champagne – in his sights, only to see a 1207.69 per cent gain on his choice of diamond mining firm Cape Diamonds pipped at the post by Mr Fullard.

Pendragon started the competition in the chilly automotive climate this time last year at just 175p and came in at 2300p on Christmas Eve, while Cape Diamonds saw its starting share price of 33p rocket to 425p.

The two leading share tipsters were head and shoulders above the rest of the top ten – their nearest rival was Ian Bailey of Williams De Broe whose choice of Amerisur Resources showed a 629.41 per cent growth surge during the year.

But languishing in the lower portion of the table – below the benchmark of the FTSE Allshare which saw gains over the year of 27.6 per cent – lurked several representatives of the Birmingham Post business desk.

Newly-appointed Birmingham Post editor Alun Thorne came in at a lowly 95 out of 102 with his pick of Land Securities, just ahead of him at number 86 came Birmingham Post industrial editor John Cranage – due to retire at the end of this year – with his choice of J Sainsbury.

And former Birmingham Post economics editor Nevill Boyd Maunsell – who retired earlier this year – saw his choice of Carillion perform just slightly below the FTSE Allshare mark.

All in all, the majority of entrants – 61 out of 102 – proved themselves worthy tipsters by coming in above the FTSE Allshare in the table compiled with the help of BRI Asset Management.

If you have your own hot tip for next year’s competition, there’s still time to play as prospective punters can send over their entries in up until 10am on Monday, January 4.

To be in with a chance of winning next year’s magnum of champagne, simply email your choice of share - just one please - to editor Alun Thorne at alun.thorne@birminghampost.net with one sentence explaining why you think you are on to a winner.

We need to stress that the competition is strictly for fun and should not be taken as investment advice by non-participating readers.

Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the UK economy – with corporate optimism levels defying the continued doom-mongering around whether or not we will have a double-dip recession – next year’s competition certainly promises to be a rollercoaster affair.

The slight change in dates in next year’s competition will mean it will be judged on a comparison of an entrant’s closing price between January 4 and December 31, 2010.