Neil Gunn writing competition 2025/26

Results of the Neil Gunn Writing Competition 2025-26

Following the award ceremony on 18 June 2026, here are the results. High Life Highland and the Neil Gunn Trust send our warmest congratulations to all the winners and grateful thanks to the judges, sponsors and everyone who entered. The competition themes are always quotes from the works of Neil Gunn to whose memory we dedicate this competition.

We gratefully acknowledge and thank our sponsors: The Dingwall & Seaforth Ward of the Highland Council; The David Summers Trust; the H R Creswick Trust; The J T H Charitable Trust; The Lydia Michael Trust; The W M Mann Foundation and High Life Highland.

ADULT SECTIONS

This year adult entrants had a choice between two quotes as their theme. Both quotes are from Landscape to Light by Neil Gunn.

1. “A landscape that retains the light and is there waiting to receive you on your dark dead days”.
2. “We are affected strangely by any place from which the tide of life has ebbed”.

Adult poetry

The chief judge was poet Jon Miller in collaboration with Cáit O’Neill McCullagh and Lynn Valentine.

1st prize: Kirsty E Watt for “Found: eyelight in the waves”.

2nd prize: Aidan Semmens for “A Northern Isle”.

3rd prize: Leonie Charleton for “Loch Lyon”.

Highly Commended: Adam Stevenson for “Faifley, 1976”.

Highly Commended: Derek Turner for “Ma Chosen Ane”

Commended: Audrey Henderson for “Four Rooms with Norman MacCaig”.

Commended: Jim Mainland for “Heodale”.

Commended: Joe Smith for “Light Light”.

Adult short story

The lead judge was the author Shona MacLean, with Marilyn Sneddon and Kenny Taylor

1st prize: Jim Carruth for “Leavin Eden”.

2nd prize: Sarah Alice Cardno for “The Last Days of St. Kilda”.

3rd prize: Iain Morrison for “Na clachan a’ tha a’ seinn”.

Highly Commended: Leonie Charleton for “Antler”.

Highly Commended: Jim Mainland for “Holding On”

SCHOOL SECTIONS

Secondary school results

The judges were Sya Bruce and Lynsey Patience, High Life Highland

Secondary pupils were given a choice of themes. 

1. “On the peoples’ part there was love of the land, love of its visible features as something near and natural to them as their own limbs.” Butcher’s Broom by Neil Gunn
2. “Through freedom the adventure continues.  The way goes into the future and the end of it cannot be known.”  The Atom of Delight by Neil Gunn

1st prize: Lucian Hutchison, Grantown Grammar School for “The River’s Mouth”.

2nd prize: Flora Barlow, Dornoch Academy for “Sgalpaigh na Hearadh”.

3rd prize: Erica Cload, Millburn Academy for “Tae Pent”

Highly Commended: Iona Olczyk, Fortrose Academy for “The Traveller”.

Highly Commended: Kelsie Ruffle, Grantown Grammar School for “Glean Affraig”.

The High Life Highland prize for best secondary school entries overall was awarded to Grantown Grammar School.

Primary school results

The judges were Meg Davidson and Laura Guthrie

The theme for the primary competition was “It was the first time he had ever been away from home and he felt excited” from The Silver Darlings by Neil Gunn

1st prize: Danai Donsophon, Ness Castle Primary for “Timmy the Shark”.

2nd prize: Torrin Brown, Glenurquhart Primary for “The Search for the Bamboo Lemur”.

3rd prize: Lucy Davidson, Cradlehall Primary for “Two Boys and the Evergreen Forest”.

Highly Commended: Callum McGregor, Farr Primary for “Something to Forget”.

Commended: Jamie Forbes, Farr Primary for “The Town of Dreams”.

Commended: Riley MacLennan, Ness Castle Primary for “The Main Attraction”.

Commended: Chelsea Yeung, Cradlehall Primary for “The Holiday Tragedy”.

The Lydia Michael Prize for best primary school entries overall was awarded to Ness Castle Primary.