2002 Creative Writing Competition Results
Category 1: Free Verse Poem (judged by Katrina Porteous)
Winner: Penelope Alexander, Wellingborough Writers
Runners-Up: Barry Adams, Inn Scribers; Maggie Spooner, Wilmslow Creative Writers’ Group; John Statham, Alsager Writers’ Circle.
Highly Commended: Lesley James, Inn Scribers; Stuart Randall, Moorside Writers; Dorothy Walker, Irwell Writers.
Category 2: Sonnet, Villanelle or Pantoum (judged by Alison Chisholm)
Winner: Jane Lawson, Associate Member
Runners-Up: Lilian Butler, Nene Valley Writers’ Circle; Jane Harland, Congleton Writers’ Forum; Diane Impey, Market Rasen Writers’ Group.
Highly Commended: Rosy Machin, Lewes U3A Writing Group; Mrs P. Netherclift, Wessex Writers' Group.
Category 3: Poem for Children (judged by Mavis Carter)
Winner: John Statham, Alsager Writers’ Circle
Runners-Up: Julian Budden, Congleton Writers’ Forum; Alison Read, Yeovil Writers’ Circle; Mike Wilson, Free Spirit Writers.
Highly Commended: Hilary Adams, Keel Writers; Nick Brigham, Newcastle College Creative Writers' Group; Aine Maire Chadwick, Will Power; Jeanne Ferguson-Sykes, Heritage Poets; Vivien Hampshire, Phrase Writers; Austin Lawrence, Filey Writers; Jean Penn, Associate Member; Stu Phillips, Kessingland Writers; Angela Pritchard, Alsager Writers' Circle; Cathy Rushworth, Gill Smith, Reading Writers' Group; Ed Turley, Wear Valley Writers.
Category 4: Love Poem (judged by Dave Etchell)
Equal Winners: Lesley James, Inn Scribers; Mary Smythe, Lewes U3A Writing Workshop.
Runners-Up: Bob Blaney, Alsager Writers’ Circle; Janet Fielding, Congleton Writers’ Forum.
Highly Commended: Leona J. Bryson, Associate Member; Dorothy Cooke, Moorside Writers; Morag Hadley, Associate Member; Sheila Irving, Wyndham Writers' Group; Susan Mary Peterson, The Write Stuff.
Category 5:Poem which can be sung to a well-known tune (judged by John Chambers)
Winner: Bill Thomas, Keele Writers’ Group
Runners-Up: Barry Adams, Inn Scribers; June Davies, Associate Member; Mike Wilson, Free Spirit Writers.
Highly Commended: Colin Ferguson, Thames Valley Writers' Group; Pamela Liebeck, Keele Writers' Group; Gael Shannon, Associate Member; Hilda Slater, Thursday Fourum; Maggie Spooner, Wilmslow Creative Writers' Group.
Category 6: Monologue (judged by Val McLane)
Winner: Alan Murton, Truro Creative Writers’ Group
Finalists: Joyce Hicks, Waveney Writers’ Circle; Joyce Robinson, Thames Valley Writers’ Circle; Sonia Royal, New Coast Writers’ Group.
Highly Commended: Barbara Maitra, Blaydon Writers; Julia McBride, Associate Member.
Category 7: Open Short Story (judged by Biddick Arts Centre Staff)
Winner: Gael Shannon, Associate Member.
Finalists: Beth Daniels, Jersey Writers’ Circle; Don Longthorp, Truro Creative Writers’ Group; Anne Powell, Lewes U3A Writing Workshop.
Highly Commended: Nick Brigham, Newcastle College Creative Writers' Group; Linda Ewles, Mendip Writers; Ted Harrison, Associate Member; Pamela Howarth, Harrow Writers; Marjorie Major, Thursday Fourum; Jim Pearson, Foyle Street Writers; Brian Webster, Associate Member; Diane Wilson, Free Spirit Writers.
Category 8: Short Story featuring “Diamonds” (judged by Brian Lister)
Winner: Eve Gray, Wear Valley Writers
Runners-Up: Simon Varley, Harrow Writers; Diane Wilson, Free Spirit Writers; Jenny Yates, Irwell Writers.
Highly commended: Aine Maire Chadwick, Will Pwer; Pam Dickinson, Wilmslow Writers; Edward James, Associate Member.
Category 9: Short Story for Children (judged by Penny Dolan)
Winner: Beth Daniels, Jersey Writers’ Circle
Runners-Up: Lois A. Johnson, Writers Reign; Celia Meade, Writers Reign; Mike Wilson, Free Spirit Writers.
Highly Commended: Penelope Alexander, Wellingborough Writers; Aine Maire Chadwick, Will Power; Pam Coveney, Associate Member; Robert Heath, Matlock Writers; Jean Penn, Associate Member.
Category 10: Non-Fictional Article (judged by Peter Barker)
Winner: Joyce Neal, Telling Tales
Runners-Up: Morag Hadley, Associate Member; John A. Silkstone, Market Rasen Writers’ Group; Dorothy Walker, Irwell Writers.
Highly Commended: Elizabeth P. Berk, Thames Valley Writers' Circle; Jean Currie, Associate Member; Marion Hayes, Nene Valley Writers' Circle; Celia Meade, Writers Reign; Yvette Verner, Uckfield & District Writers; Fred Vernon, Northampton Literature Group.
Category 11: New Sitcom or Soap for TV (judged by Ken Rock)
Winner: Leona J. Bryson, Associate Member
Runners-Up: John Statham, Alsager Writers’ Circle; John Talman, The Untapped Writers; Ted Warner, Lincoln Phoenix Writers’ Circle.
Category 12: Mini-Tale (winner chosen by some of the members of the NAWG Committee):
Winner: Stuart Randall, Moorside Writers;
Runners-Up: Kirsty Adlard, Fosseway Writers; Lois A. Johnson, Writers Reign; Kay Knutsen, Lewes U3A Writers’ Workshop; Barbara Maitra, Blaydon Writers; Nimmi Rajiv, Writers Reign; Hilda Slater, The Thursday Fourum; Jacqueline A. Smith, Associate Member; Maggie Spooner, Wilmslow Creative Writers’ Group; Diane Wilson, Free Spirit Writers
Category 13: Novel (judged by Iain Pattison)
Winner: Judith Cranswick, Penpushers
Runners-Up: Ghislaine Davies-Goff, Barrack Road Writers; Jean Hughes, Dialstone Writers; Sheila Jackson, Hertsmere Writers’ Circle.
Highly Commended: Helen Corcoran, Associate Member; Sally Spedding, Barrack Road Writers; Maggie Spooner, Wilmslow Creative Writers' Group; Peter Wynn Norris, Barrack Road Writers.
Category 14: The Denise Robertson Silver Trophy for Best Group Anthology (judged by Souvenir Press Ltd.)
Winners: Richmond Writers’ Circle
Runners-Up: Pennine Ink Writers’ Workshop; Truro Creative Writers’ Group; Wellingborough Writers.
Highly Commended: Barrack Road Writers; Lincoln Phoenix Writers’ Circle.
Top writer of the year was shared by Maggie Spooner (Wilmslow Writers) and John Statham (Alsager Writers’ Group) on 11 points (five for a win, three for a runner-up and two for a highly commended). Second place was Mike Wilson (Free Spirit Writers) with 9 with Beth Daniels (Jersey Writers) and Diane Wilson (Free Spirit Writers) on 8.
Top group of the year was Free Spirit Writers who totalled 17 points, while Alsager Writers’ Circle totalled 16, Writers Reign 14 points, and Wilmslow Writers 13 points.
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