Free Verse Poem
Winner: Vanessa Young (Shorelines) I prefer space.
Runners-up: Lesley Mace (Stortford Scribblers) Childhood haunts; Hazel Wellings (Leigh and Atherton) Lifelines: John Lindley (Congleton Writers’ Forum) How to think your pain away.
Highly Commended: John Statham (Alsager Writers) Shanty town fire; John Birch (Carmarthen Writers’ Circle) Eating disorder: Malcolm McKenzie (Lanchester Writers) Kevin.

 

Children’s Poem
Winner: Andrew Pugsley (Trowell Writers) You can’t tickle a tiger.
Runners-up: Lesley Mace (Stortford Scribblers) Feline; Julian Budden (Congleton Writers’ Forum) The octopus and the shark; John Birch (Carmarthen Writers’ Circle) The slug.

A Collection of Five Poems
Winner: John Statham (Alsager Writers) Proposing.
Runners-up: Hilary Adams (Keele Poets) Sonnets for my seventies; Diane Wilson (Free Spirit Writers) Life timing; Mike Wilson (Free Spirit Writers) Families.
Highly Commended: Shirley Anne Percy (Irwell Writers’ Group) Shapes: Gwilym Pennant Roberts (Telling Tales Writers’ Group) Animal, vegetable and a brick or two; Alison Read (Associate) Different levels.

Open Short Story
Winner: Jenny Yates (Irwell Writers) The morning after.
Runners-up: Ghislaine Goff (Associate) Golden girl; Terry Ann Jolland (Burton Monday Writers) Child of mine; Paul Zealand (DAWG) A step at a time
Highly Commended: Patricia Newcombe (Associate) Brylcreem and fairy cake; Richard Rayner (Wilmslow Writers) The Italian princess; Josephine M. Sutton (Uckfield & District Writers) Beneath the pebbles.

 

Short Story (with given last line)
Winner: Richard Hallows (Associate) An unusual job.
Runners-up: Richard Rayner (Wilmslow Writers) The white widow; Jenny Yates (Irwell Writers) The tell; Kirsty M. Adlard (Fosseway Writers) Daddy’s girl.
Highly Commended: Lesley Mace (Stortford Scribblers) Pay dirt: Jacqueline A. Smith (Associate) Two daisies and a lopsided dandelion.

 

Children’s Short Story
Winner: Margaret Brewster (Blythe Writers) Oops here comes another sherbert fountain.
Runners-up: Jean Penn (Associate) The alien schoolmaster; Aine Maire Chadwick (Will Power) The day of the dragon; Maggie Spooner (Wilmslow Writers) Be careful what you wish for.
Highly Commended: Lesley Mace (Stortford Scribblers) Junked army; Nick Brigham (Hexham Writers’ Group) Charlie and the Blitz; Julian Budden (Congleton Writers’ Forum) The chocolate-coated kitchen.

 

Novel (previously unpublished)
Winner: Celia Meade (Writers Reign)  Faith, hope and calamity.
Runners-up: Paul Grainger (Lincoln Phoenix Writers) A matter of trust; Richard Hallows (Associate) The parenting group; Simon Varley (Harrow Writers) The dying island.

 

Non-fictional Article in “how-to” mode
Winner: Simon Whaley (Associate) A holiday home with history.
Runners-up: Susan Down (Salisbury Writers) The writer’s journal: Jacqueline A. Smith (Associate) Moon dust and memorabilia: Richard Hallows (Associate) How to reduce household waste.
Highly Commended: Alan Murton (Truro Writers) Public speaking: Mary Vear (Thurrock Writers) Watercolour painting: Dick Sawdon Smith (Thames Valley Writers) How to avoid road rage.

Fantasy/Science Fiction
Winner: Mike Wilson (Free Spirit Writers) Brinsley’s beefburger.
Runners-up: David Hamilton (Associate) Noticed in Galilee; Richard Rayner (Wilmslow Writers) Chip and jinn; Rose Taylor (Truro Writers) The dragons of dawn.

 

Mini-Tale
Winner: Jo Sadler.
Runners-up: Rita Ainsworth, Diane Wilson, Raymond G. Wilson

 

Denise Robertson Trophy for the Best Group Anthology
Winners: Fifth Province by Lucht Focail Writers.
Runners-up: Hidden Depths by Thames Valley Writers’ Circle;  Mixed Spice by Writers Reign; Peterborough Writers’ Circle Anthology.

 

The winner of the joint NAWG/Writers’ News short story competition was Norman Blake, of Oxted, Surrey. He received a free place at the NAWG Festival of Writing, courtesy of Writers’ News, and the crystal trophy, which he keeps for a year.

Second prize winner (£50) was Aine Chadwick of Choppington, Northumberland.
Third prize winner (£25) was Richard Hallows, of Shalstone, Bucks.