Members' Competitions Results 2025
Here are the results of the members' competitions 2025
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Open Poetry
Winner
Searchlight by Alison Ringrose – Northumbrian Writers.
Runners Up
Bluebells for Remembrance by Jan Huntley – Holmfirth Writers' Group.
In the Woods by Susan Nutall – Northumbrian Writers.
The Captain by Vincent Bernard – Holmfirth Writers' Group.
Highly Commended
Tyne Green by Geof Keys – Northumbrian Writers' Group.
Sestina
Winner
Witness (St Wystan's Church, Repton) by Shelagh Wain – Burton Monday Writers.
Second
Sutton Scarsdale Hill, Bolsover by Gary Carr – Runaway Writers.
Third
Nature and Nurture by Jo Roberts – Writers' Hub, Coventry.
Highly Commended
An Early Spring Walk by Orian Norfolk – Northumbrian Writers' Group.
Toshie by Robert Rayner – Northumbrian Writers' Group.
Short Story (with a clock)
Winner
Electric Clocks Tick by John Glander – Harlow Writers.
Runners Up
The Trouble with Dave by Janine Duncan – Hexham Writers.
F.I.S.H. by Penny Ellis – Ross Writers @ the Royal.
Keeping Time by Nick Brigham – Hexham Writers.
Historical Fiction
Winner
Cooking for 3 by Alana Beth Davies – Swansea and District Writers' Circle.
Runners Up
An Exchange of Thoughts by Jerry Sutton – Hinckley Scribblers.
1962 Cuban Missile Crisis by David Lake – Writers in Somerset.
Portrait of Vermeer by Judith Roberts – SWit'CH.
Ghost/Horror Story
Winner
Jasmine by Andy Humphrey – Independent.
Runners Up
Night at the Mystery Museum by Emma Finlayson-Palmer – Wombourne Writers.
Who's A Pretty Boy Then? by William Liggins – Writers' Hub, Coventry.
Cry Wolf by Alison Ringrose – Northumbrian Writers.
Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Winner
Beyond the Blue Planet by Graeme Hunter – Northumbrian Writers.
Runners Up
Marcus by Yvonne Hutchinson-Ruff – Llanelli Writers' Circle.
Sword and Senility by Mark Pattison – Northumbrian Writers.
I'm Not a Robot by Richard Layton – Derbyshire Script Writers.
Highly Commended
Flight 365 by Lynda Turner – Burton Monday Writers.
Romantic Fiction
Winner
Mr Papadopoulis Returns to Greece by Chris Raetschus – Hexham Writers @ the Abbey.
Runners Up
Lost Connection by James Edwards – Northumbrian Writers.
A Crack in the Stone by Alana Beth Davies – Swansea and District Writers' Circle.
That Boy! By Kerri Simpson – Northumbrian Writers.
Comedy Writing
Winner
Don't Tell Anyone by John Hope – Fellowship of the Pen.
Second
Mr Unwin Instead by Bob Crockett – Hinckley Scribblers.
Third
Butyllithium by Andy Humphrey – Independent.
Highly Commended
Return to Sender by Bob Shepherd – Yeovil Creative Writers.
Science and Nature
Winner
Whalefall by Penny Ellis – Ross Writers @ the Royal.
Runner Up
A Rose by Any Other Name by Peter Pool – Northumbrian Writers.
Highly Commended
The Other Net Zero by Shelagh Wain – Burton Monday Writers.
"How To" Guide
Winner
A Guide For How To Succeed at Target Archery by David Walton – Runaway Writers.
Runners Up
How to Cook for One by Graeme Hunter – Northumbrian Writers.
How to be the Hero of Your Own Story by Victoria White – Saturday Sentence.
How to Survive A Pony Club Rally in 10 Easy Steps by Alison Hallett – Runaway Writers.
Crime Fiction
Winner
A Smell in the Basement by Nick Brigham – Hexham Writers.
Runners Up
A Sunset in Sorrento by Helen Jane Somers – Writers in Somerset.
A Lust of the Eyes by David Potter – Hinckley Scribblers.
Trapped by James Edwards – Northumbrian Writers.
Countdown to Murder by Ian Johnson – Tyldesley Creative Writers.
Highly Commended
7:32 by John Glander – Harlow Writers.
Foolproof by Alison Ringrose – Northumbrian Writers.
Memoir
Winner
Fracture by Melanie Oliver-Trotter – Northumbrian Writers.
Runners Up
Growing Up With Fossils by Orian Norfolk – Northumbrian Writers.
On The Step by Carol Hurley – Wombourne Writers.
Rita's Untold Story by Bob Crockett – Hinckley Scribblers.
Shortbread by Sam Davey – Hastings Writers' Group.
Highly Commended
Ian by Karen Evans – Wombourne Writers.
Having Your Cake and Not Eating It by Jo Roberts – Writers' Hub, Coventry.
10 Minute Play/Monologue
Winner
The End Game by Stephen Palmer – Carlisle Writers' Group.
Runner Up
What is the Point? by Yvonne Hutchinson-Ruff – Llanelli Writers' Group.
Highly Commended
When Bobby Baxter Came to Call by Jan Keegan – Northumbrian Writers.
Hinterland 2 by Hilary Feeney – Northumbrian Writers.
Children's Prize
Joint Winners
Easter by Sylvi Cabaniuk (Jan Huntley).
The Break In by Elijah Robinson (Helen Jane Somers).
Group Anthology
Winner
Entanglement – Burton Runaway Writers.
Second
Through the Writer's Eye – Burnley and District Writers' Circle.
Third
Three's a Crowd – Bold Writers.
Fourth
The Outline of Memory – Carlisle Writers' Group.
