Members Comps 2026 - WINNERS
Members Competitions entries: UPDATED the winners
Open Poetry
FIRST: Echoes in the Park – Robert Rayner – Northumbrian Writers
SECOND: The Impossibility of Love Beneath an Alexander Calder Mobile – Amanda Brookfield -
Holmfirth Writing Group
THIRD: Entanglement – Sarah Dale - Burton Runaway Writers
Highly Commended - Surfing the Heatwave – David Potter – Hinckley Scribblers
Sonnet
FIRST: Life Study – Hilary Feeney – Northumbrian Writers
Runners Up:
Taken Aback in Vienna – Jan Huntley – Holmfirth Writing Group
Almond Tree – Vincent Johnson – Holmfirth Writing Group
I Saw You, Auxo – Sheila McClure – Northumbrian Writers
Short Story (with an included item)
FIRST: Where the Dead Bloom – Emma Finlayson-Palmer – Wombourne Writers
SECOND: The Homecoming – Yvonne Hutchinson-Ruff – Llanelli Writers’ Circle
THIRD: The Carved Angel – Sheila McClure – Northumbrian Writers
FOURTH: Luka - Fiona Bernhoeft – Northumbrian Writers
Historical Fiction
FIRST: Roses are Red, Violets are Blue – Sheila Wain – Burton Monday Writers
SECOND: When I was Jennie – Melanie Oliver-Trotter – Northumbrian Writers
THIRD: The Meeting Place – Sioux Bradshaw - Hastings Writing Group
FOURTH: We’ll Always Have the Somme – James Edwards – Northumbrian Writers
Ghost and Horror
FIRST: The Commission – Susan Nuttall – Northumbrian Writers
SECOND: Trick or Treat – Sue Gerrard – Independent
THIRD: The Challenge – Janet Johnstone – Wrekin Writers
Sci Fi/ Fantasy
FIRST: Bloom – Christopher Adams – Wrekin Writers
Runners Up:
Can the Use of Government Sponsored Technology Enhance Social Cohesion – Sioux Bradshaw – Hastings Writing Group
Returning Home – Clare Byrne – Northumbrian Writers
The Professor, The Housekeeper and the Evacuees – Mark Pattison - Northumbrian Writers
Romantic Fiction
FIRST: The Colour of Love – Gillian Scholey – Independent
SECOND: It’s in the Eyes – Amelia Alice – Alnwick Playhouse Writers
THIRD: Simple Pleasures – Yvonne Hutchinson-Ruff – Llanelli Writers’ Circle
FOURTH: Stranded – Paul Mingard – Northumbrian Writers
Runners Up:
Harvest – Penny Ellis – Ross Writers @ the Royal
Mafia Man – Alison Ringrose – Northumbrian Writers
Comedy
FIRST: The World According to Claudia – David Potter – Hinckley Scribblers
SECOND: Calculating Love – Gwyneth Box – Independent
THIRD: Penny For Them – Paul Mingard – Northumbrian Writers
Highly Commended:
Condensed Version of the Bible – Tim Barlow – Hastings Writing Group
George – Karen Eaketts – Northumbrian Writers
Because You’re Worth It – Sheila McClure – Northumbrian Writers
The Case of the Winter Blues – Robert Rayner – Northumbrian Writers
The Three F’s Club – Amelia Alice – Alnwick Playhouse Writers
Science and Nature
FIRST - Robin – Brenda Cusak – Northumbrian Writers
Runners Up:
Lavoisier and the Guinea Pig – Penny Ellis – Ross Writers @ the Royal
I Will Always Love Yew – Louise Courtney – Saturday Sentence
AI and Mankind – Afaf G Sanders – Burton Monday Writers
How To……
FIRST: How to Spend a Weekend in Dublin on a Shoestring – Wendy White – Llanelli Writers’ Circle
Runners Up:
How to Manage Upwards – Tim Anderson – Waveney Writers Guild
How to be an Expert on Experts – Jan Keegan – Riverside Writers
How to Knit a Fair Isle Jumper – Melanie Lockey – Wombourne Writers
Crime Fiction
FIRST: Murder Most Blithe – Chris(tine) Phillips – Northumbrian Writers
Runners Up:
The Night Walker – Ian Johnson – Tyldesley Creative Writers
Lights Out – Michelle Marsden – Burnley and District Writers’ Group
Gravel – Chris Milner – Northumbrian Writers
The Usurper – Gillian Scholey – Independent
A Dutiful Wife – Lynda Turner – Burton Monday Writers
Memoir
FIRST: Fitting In – Melanie Oliver-Trotter – Northumbrian Writers
Runners Up:
Grandad’s Shed – Sandy Neville – Gorsedd Creative Writing Group
Who I Am – Susan Nuttall – Northumbrian Writers
My French Revolution – Jan Keegan – Riverside Writers
10 Minute Play/Monologue
FIRST: Death in the Morning – Ian Johnson – Tyldesley Creative Writers
Runners Up:
Grief and Guilt – Melanie Lockey – Wombourne Writers
Highly Commended
Phone Power – Lynda Turner – Burton Monday Writers
Black Cat – Alison Ringrose – Northumbrian Writers
Children’s Category
Highly Commended
Vikings – Sylvi Cabaniuk – (Jan Huntley)
Mount Merapi – Anabelle Somers-Brown – (Jan Huntley)
Tempest – Rowan Finlayson-Palmer – (Emma Finlayson-Palmer)
Anthologies
FIRST: Writing From Holme – Holmfirth Writers
SECOND Silver Threads – Burton Monday Writers
THIRD The Lowry Anthology – Swit’CH
