2010-2011 Neil Gunn writing competition
This biennial competition is organised by The Highland Council and The Neil Gunn Trust. The lead judge for 2010-11 was Scottish author Andrew Greig and the theme was ‘A Wrong Turning’.
"Our river took a wrong turning somewhere! But we haven't forgotten the source."
Highland River, Neil M Gunn
The award ceremony for the 2010-2011 competition has now taken place and the winners are listed below. Please follow the link to the Am Baile website to read this year’s winning entries and also view previous winners.
Neil Gunn 2010-11 Prize winners
Primary school section
First prize - Sarah Sinclair, Lybster Primary school
Second prize - Mari-Ann Ganson, Lybster Primary School
Third prize - Ewen MacColl, Spean Bridge Primary School
Commended - Eilidh MacDonald, Kinlochewe Primary School
Commended - Matthew Ross, Daviot Primary School
Commended - John Williamson, Auchtertyre Primary School
Secondary school section
First Prize - Will Hoffmann, Dingwall Academy
Second Equal Prize - Katrina Gallacher, Dingwall Academy
Second Equal Prize - Anna Macrae, Dingwall Academy
Second Equal Prize - Ellen Whealing, Golspie High School
Highly Commended - Caitlin Ferguson, Ardnamurchan High School
Highly Commended - Seumas Barker, Fortrose Academy
Highly Commended - Freddie Mack, Dingwall Academy
Highly Commended - Samantha McNeil, Dingwall Academy
Highly Commended - Natalie Bushell, Dingwall Academy
The Neil Gunn Trust Prize for the outstanding school of the competition was awarded to Dingwall Academy.
Adult Prose section
First Prize - Margaret Skea - ‘Working Away’
Second Equal Prize - Leo Madigan - ‘The Spirit of Peru’
Second Equal Prize - Michael Marett-Crosby - ‘Luggage’
Second Equal Prize - Jane Verburg - ‘Lapworth’s Turn’
Commended - Gerry Watson - ‘Franked’
Commended - Alasdair MacEwen - ‘Out of Africa’
Commended - Joyce Moore - ‘Cyclops’
Adult Poetry section
First Equal Prize - Donald Mackay - ‘Flambeaux’
First Equal Prize - Susan Richardson - ‘Isolate’
Highly Commended - Sarah Van Hove - ‘The Legacy’
Highly Commended - John Brewster - ‘Sae Faur fae ma Faither’
Commended - Nancy Rutherford - ‘Nothing but the Truth’
Commended - Simon Jackson - ‘Lost in the Forest’
The HI-Arts prize of a week at the Moniack Mhor Writing Centre for the overall winner of the competition was awarded to the adult prose winner Margaret Skea.
Sponsors
The organisers are grateful for the following sponsorship:
David Sutherland, Tulloch Homes for sponsoring the individual awards in each section – adult prose, adult poetry, secondary school and primary school.
Robert Livingstone, Director of HI-Arts for sponsoring the prize of a week at Moniack Mhor Writers Centre (or any other Arvon Centre) for the overall winner of the competition.
David Lynch, The Greenhouse, Dingwall for sponsoring the Neil Gunn Trust Award to the outstanding school.
Date of next competition
The next Neil Gunn Writing Competition will launch in 2012 and be awarded in 2013. The exact launch date has not yet been set.
Contact
For further information please contact Charlotte MacArthur, Area Libraries Officer, South.
Email charlotte.macarthur@highlifehighland.com or phone 01463 663828.