Caithness success in Neil Gunn Writing Awards
THREE talented Caithness writers achieved success in the Neil Gunn Writing Awards.
The awards ceremony, which was held in Inverness Town House, saw Lybster Primary School pupils Sarah Sinclair and Mari-Ann Ganson, along with Donald Mackay, from Stanstill, among the winners.
The competition has been run by the Highland Council’s education, culture and sport service in partnership with the Neil Gunn Trust every two years since 1988.
This year the theme was “A Wrong Turning” and a total of 335 entries for the four categories of adult poetry, adult prose, secondary school and primary school were received.
In the primary section, Sarah Sinclair picked up first prize with fellow primary six pupil Mari-Ann Ganson taking the runners-up spot.
Donald Mackay (53) shared first prize in the adult poetry category with his poem entitled “Flambeaux”.
The adult competition attracted entries from Europe, South Africa, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as well as all over the UK.
Despite this all but one of the winning entries came from the UK with Highland-based authors taking six of the 13 places.
Results – Primary school section: 1, Sarah Sinclair, Lybster; 2, Mari-Ann Ganson, Lybster; 3, Ewen MacColl, Spean Bridge. Commended: Eilidh MacDonald, Kinlochewe; John Williamson, Auchtertyre Primary School, Matthew Ross, Daviot.
Secondary school section: 1, Will Hoffmann, Dingwall; 2eq Katrina Gallacher, Dingwall, Anna Macrae, Dingwall, and Ellen Whealing, Golspie. Highly commended: Caitlin Ferguson, Ardnamurchan; Seumas Barker, Fortrose; Freddie Mack, Dingwall; Samantha McNeil, Dingwall; Natalie Bushell, Dingwall.
Adult prose section: 1, Margaret Skea, Kelso; 2eq Leo Madigan, Portugal, Michael Marett-Crosby, Ardross, and Jane Verburg, Cromarty. Commended: Gerry Watson, Peterborough; Alasdair MacEwen, Avoch; and Joyce Moore, Orkney.
Adult poetry section: 1eq, Donald Mackay, Stanstill, and Susan Richardson, Cardiff. Highly commended: Sarah Van Hove, Skye; John Brewster, Fife. Commended: Nancy Rutherford, St Albans; Simon Jackson, Edinburgh.