2005 Creative Writing Competition Results
All I did was the nice part, writing letters to members who were short-listed or highly commended. I always considered that the nicest job of all so it was a pleasure.
It also meant that, as I had no hand in the procedure till after judging, I was able to enter. I know how stiff the competition is so I was delighted to receive a Highly Commended. The judges said they had a difficult job.
The winners were announced at the Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony at the Open Festival of Writing on Saturday, 3rd September, at St Aidan's College, Durham.
First prize was a small engraved book plus certificate; Runners-up received a certificate; Highly Commended also received a certificate.
Category 1: Free Verse Poem
Winner: Maggie Spooner, Wilmslow Writers’ Group.
Runners-up: Harry Goode, Cambridge Writers; Celia Saywell, Carmarthen Writers’ Circle; Malcolm McKenzie, Lanchester Creative Writing Group.
Highly Commended:
Susan Down, Salisbury New Writers.
Category 2: Children’s Poem
Winner: Elizabeth Parish, A Thursday Group.
Runners-up: Asit Maitra, Write Way; Maggie Spooner, Wilmslow Writers’ Group; Lesley James, The Inn Scribers.
Highly Commended: Maurice Gambles, Ashton Writers’ Group; Thomas F. McBride, The University of Liverpool Writing Society for Lifelong Learning.
Specially Noted: Celia Burney, Newcastle College Writers; Edith Ward, Salford Women Writers; Diane Bailey, Lincoln Phoenix Writers Circle.
The judge, Adrian Spendlow, singled out 19 poets whose work he thought worthy of being included in the anthology. They were: Patsy Collins, Maureen Toyn, John Malvert, Patricia Rawson, Hilda Slater, Barbara Klempka, N. J. Bradley, Nick Brigham, Thora Beddard, Christine Bassett, Diane Impey, Gary Carr, Judy Smith, Dorothy Morris Speed, Rachel Kramrisch, Linda Houlton, Julian Budden, Olive Holland and Jayne Osborn.
Category 3: Rhymed Poem
Winner: David Ridge, Associate.
Runners-Up: Valerie Warren, Battle Writers Group; Maggie Spooner, Wilmslow Writers’ Group.
Highly Commended: Pamela Buxton, Leigh & Atherton Writers; Carol Hurley, Wombourne Writers; Jackie Mitchell, Newcastle College Writers; Jane Mann, Associate.
Category 4: Open Short Story
Winner: Marie West, Hartlepool Writing Together.
Runners-Up: Pennant Roberts, Telling Tales; Martin Parker and Trevor Higtom, The Plough Group; Astrid Hymers, Cullercoats Writers.
Highly Commended: G. V. Cope, The Plough Group; Peter R. Cullis, Associate.
Category 5: Fantasy/Sci-Fi Short Story
Winner: L. T. Farrer, Lincoln Phoenix Writers.
Runners-Up: Chris Wood, Ashton Writers; David H. Allen, 3D; Elizabeth Parish, Salford Women Writers.
Highly Commended: Vivien Carmichael, Vallence Writers Group; Jill Taylor, Chobham Writers.
Category 6: Children’s Short Story
Winner: Dennis Ahern, Thurrock Writers Circle.
Runners-Up: L. T. Farrer, Lincoln Phoenix Writers; Astrid Hymers, Cullercoats Writers; Sam Olliff, Camberley Writers Group.
Highly Commended: Peter Andrews, Lanchester Creative Writers.
Category 7: Ten-Minute One-Act Play
Winner: Sylvia Birchall, Lichfield & District.
Runners-up: Geraldine Smedley, Lincoln Phoenix Writers Group; Gary
Heap, Writers Reign; Phyllis Gall, March & Doddington Writers Circle.
Category 8: Article
Winner: Jill Heller, Harrow Writers Circle.
Runners-Up: Sylvia Gower, Mersea Writers; Jacqueline A. Smith, Associate; Muriel Williamson, Airedale Writers Circle.
Highly Commended: Mike Wilson, Free Spirit Writers; Hilda Slater, Bridlington Writers Group; Sue Round, Worcester Writers Circle; Christopher Green, Market Rasen Writers Group; Judy Smith, Scarborough Writers Society; John Thompson, Carmarthen Writers Circle.
Category 9: A Collection of Five Poems
Winner: Gary Carr, Associate.
Runners-Up: Almira Holmes, Salford Women Writers; Barry J. N. Adams, The Inn Scribers; Jayne Osborn, Nene Valley Writers Circle.
Highly Commended: Elizabeth Parish, Salford Women Writers.
Category 10: Denise Robertson Silver Trophy for the Best Group Anthology
Winner: Hastings Writing Group, Strandline.
Runners-Up: Honiton Writers’ Circle, Why are the Chickens Making
such a Fuss?; Newcastle College Writers, In Progress; Writers Reign, Melange.
The Mini-Tale:
Winner: Jacqueline A. Smith.
Runners-Up: Peter Bibby, Sylvia Birchall, John Thompson.
Joint NAWG/Writers’ News short story competition:
Theme Celebration, organised to celebrate NAWG’s tenth birthday.
Winner: Patricia Watson, of Richmond, North Yorkshire,
Patricia’s prize was her place at the Festival, plus a certificate and a beautiful glass trophy which featured on the cover of the last issue of Link. Patricia keeps the trophy for one year. On behalf of Writers’ News Jean Saunders made the presentation.
Jean Addington, who came second in the competition, was awarded her prize of £50.
Third placed Patricia Snelling receives £25,
Ann Gibson, Tadcaster; Jean Penn, Gosport; Hazel E. Stevens, Malton; and Lynne Worwood, Salisbury all received a NAWG certificate
Winners also receive a copy of The Writer's Handbook, courtesy of Writers' News
Jean Saunders (left) presents Patricia Watson with the Writers' News trophy
Prize Draws:
A free draw prize of The Handbook of Written English donated by How to Books was
won by Chris Wood and a similar draw for eight books donated by Writers’ News
was won by Liz Bennett.
Brian Lister, NAWG’s first Honorary Lifetime Member, presented Raymond G.
Wilson with his honorary lifetime membership to acknowledge Raymond’s service
as treasurer of the association from its birth to its tenth birthday
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