Members Comps 2026 - 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