Details of our competitions, and the results, are shown here. The entries are added to the Library (if we have them in digital form). Details of local and national writing and poetry competitions are circulated to members by email. Two competitions are in recognition of the contributions to the Circle of late members. You can read about them on our In Memoriam page.

24 Apr 2018 Iain Pattison Short Story Comp Entries on the theme of “Anniversary” must be not more than 1500 words in length. Your entry (hard copy only) must be submitted to Sally no later than the close of the meeting on Tuesday 22nd May 2018. Your name must not appear on the pages of your entry. Instead, attach a sheet containing your name and the title of your entry. Sally will keep track of who wrote which story but Iain will not know the identities of the authors when judging. Iain is a well known judge of writing competitions. He will provide a written critique of each entry which in the past members have found very helpful. He will place the best three stories. Readings of the entries (and the critiques if members are happy to share them) will be on 19th June and Sally will then announce the winners. There were 15 entries to this year’s event… …and the winners were: 1. Act of Remembrance by David Burnell 2. Christmas and Birthday by Helen Collett 3. Magic George by Walter Jardine

Feb 2018 Chris Mundy Memorial Poetry Competition 2018 Each entrant read their poem and comments were made both by our judge, Louise Ordish, and anyone else who had anything they would like to add. Louise also provided each entrant with a brief written critique of their poem. The results were as follows: 1st Flamenco Colin Ferguson 2nd 40 Shades of Blue Chloe Stoakes 3rd Middle Me Sally Johnson    

Dec 2017 Arthur Redway Memorial         Competition 2017 There were sixteen strong entries to this year's competition for a story of up to 1200 words. Members voted as follows: 1. Avalanche Barbara Smith 2. Let's Talk Walter Jardine 3. Some Problem Les Williams

Dec 2017 Christmas Homework 2017 For those with strong enough constitutions after the coming festivities Christmas homework has been set. Either short stories or poems are welcome, with a word limit of 1000. The theme is "what I found in my Christmas stocking".

Sep 2017 Hallowe'en / Bonfire Night homework 2017 A short story of up to 1200 words on anything about Hallowe'en or Bonfire Night. There were 17 entries but unfortunately only time to read 14 on the night. To keep up the momentum of the evening and complete the competition with the readings and judging all on the same evening the 14 were judged. Results were as follows: 1st   Fields of Wheat Les Williams 2nd A Burning Question Joyce Robinson 3rd Life and Death Nick Swyft

6 Sep 2017 Summer Homework Your brief is to write a story in no more than 1200 words, in which a person is faced with a seemingly impossible situation, and to show your reader how they deal with it. The result of the secret ballot for the winners of the Summer homework competition were announced last night. =1. The Frying Pan Helen Collett   =1. Forgive Me Father David Baldock 3. Agony Aunt Sally Johnson

7 Jun 2017 Iain Pattison judged short story competition 2017 The results of this year's competition is as follows: 1st One Way Ticket Mary Pooley   2nd Eye of the Beholder Nick Swyft   =3rd A Zombie Love Story Joyce Robibson =3rd Londonderry Heir David Burnell

Apr 2017 Chris Mundy Memorial Poetry Competition 2017 Louise Ordish, well known local poet and judge of the competition provided a written critique of each poem which she outlined after each reading. There were 13 entries. 1st Sailor Boy Barbara O Smith 2nd Swan Neil Somerville 3rd Becalmed Les Williams Highly commended: Mum's Funeral Marta Cseh Giving Colin Ferguson Singing in a Sparrer's Ear'ole  David Baldock.

5 Apr 2017 One-Act Play Competition 2017 The One Act Play competition was once again judged by Arthur Burke of the Progress Theatre. There were eight entries this year, and the result was as follows: 1st    Locked Out Les Williams 2nd   Museum Vitae   Joseph Dulston 3rd    A Good Policeman Nick Swyft