The Leeds Writers Circle runs three competitions a year. The competitions are open to all paid-up members of the circle, and are free to enter.
Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the next competition is currently on hold.
Please note: The Annavation Award (named after veteran member Anna Sutcliffe) is presented at the discretion of the judge to one entry which, while not necessarily being a first/second/third prizewinner, shows originality and/or innovation in writing style, content, presentation or any other facet deemed pertinent by the judge.
From left to right: Joanna Bucktrout, Philip Tempest, Judge Alison Lock, Mark Pennington, Jason
2019
DIALOGUE (judged by Mandy Sutter)
First: Rita Morrison – Back Home (extract from novel)
Second (Equal): Pat Pickavance – Janice & Emma at the Swings (extract from novel)
Second (Equal): Ian Harker – Halves
Highly Commended:
Linda Fulton – Walls made of Cardboard
Jenny Tennant-Jackson – Consultation
Peter White – Ekphrasis
From left to right: Pat Pickavance, Judge Mandy Sutter, Rita Morrison (with winner’s trophy), Linda Fulton, Ian Harker and Jenny Tennant-Jackson.
POETRY (judged by Angela Topping)
First: Gail Mosley – My Mother’s Things
Second: Stephanie Thornton – The Girl on the Bridge
Third: Andy Armitage – The Falling Man
Annavation Award: Marg Greenwood – The bed of Machair
Highly Commended:
Gill Osborne – Continuum
Sandra Burnett – Note to Silence
SHORT STORY (judged by Martyn Bedford)
First: David Cundall – After Farsley
Second: Graeme Hall – A History of Chinese Tea
Third: Stephanie Thornton – Getting On
Annavation Award: Su Ryder – Bearing It
Highly Commended:
Jason – Daddy’s Girl
Linda Fulton – Take Home A Masterpiece
Back row, left to right: Graeme Hall, David Cundall (with winner’s trophy), Judge Martyn Bedford, Jason; Front: Sue Ryder (with Annavation trophy) and Linda Fulton. (With apologies to David from the photographer for inadvertently hiding his fine features from view!)
2018
ANYTHING GOES (judged by Andy Humphrey)
First: Sunyi Dean – Ice Cream and English Summers
Second: Jason – The Woman in the Shoe
Third: Peter Richardson – The Last Door
Annavation Award: Jason Heppell
Highly Commended:
David Cundall – Wiikwemkoong
Judge Andy Humphrey (centre) with winner Sunyi Dean and third placed Peter Richardson
POETRY (judged by Sarah Corbett)
First: Sandra Burnett – Mayday
Second: Charlotte Eichler – Cephalophores
Third: Emma Storr – Seascape
Annavation Award: Peter White – A new day is not a child of midnight
Commended:
Andrew Lambeth – Why the Swan
Pat Belford – Module
Gail Mosley – Single Span
2017
MONOLOGUE (judged by Paul Ratcliffe)
First: Andrew Lambeth
Second: Joanna Bucktrout
Third: Su Ryder
Highly Commended:
Ian Harker
SHORT STORY (judged by Linda Lee Welch)
First: Peter Richardson
Second: Linda Fulton
Third: Ian Harker
Annavation Award: Ian Harker
Highly Commended:
Andrew Lambeth
Tony Rymer
Winner Peter Richardson pictured above with our excellent judge, Linda Lee Welch.
Winners from left to right: Andrew Lambeth (Highly Commended), Linda Fulton (Second), Ian Harker (Third plus the Annavation award) and Peter Richardson (First).
2016
SPECULATIVE FICTION (judged by Justina Robson)
First: Graeme Hall – Read Through
Second: Paul Al-Meshall – Nyaber
Third: Dennis Clarkson – The Chair
Annavation Award: Sarah Dodd – The Winter Queen at the Fall of the Last Leaves
