The Neil Gunn Writing Competition : 2021/22 Winners
This biennial competition is organised by The Neil Gunn Trust in partnership with High Life Highland. The lead judge for this, the 16th competition was the distinguished author and patron of the Neil Gunn Trust, James Robertson.
The competition has 4 sections – Adult Short Story and Adult Poetry open to writers worldwide; the Secondary (S3-S6) and Primary (P5-P7) Schools sections open to pupils attending Highland Council schools. The competition themes are quotes from Neil Gunn’s writing.
Adult Poetry section
Joint first place
- The Coming of Water by Jon Miller
- The Feeding by David Ross Linklater
Third place
- Advancing Waves of Song by James Knox Whittet
Highly Commended
- Going for the Gap by Barbara Hickson
Commended
- The Autumn Country by Ian McDonough
Adult poetry winners judges’ presentation.
Adult Short Story section
First place
- Flying Crooked by Heather F. Reid
Second equal
- Swept Away by Robin Rother
- The Seal by Jim Mainland
Commended
- Get Me A Stinking Goosefoot by Neil Cargill
- The Way Home by Ruth Adams
Adult short story winners judges’ presentation.
Secondary Schools section
First place
- Birdsong by Mhairi MacColl, Lochaber High
Second place
- A Beautiful Silence by Douglas Leslie, Millburn Academy
Third place
- I Found Myself Standing Yet Again by Coll McNamara, Millburn Academy
Commended
- Entirely Alone by Rosana Shepherd, Lochaber High
- The Hermit by Karina Stankeiwicz, Inverness High
Secondary schools winners judges’ presentation.
Primary Schools section
First place
- The World Behind The Door by Daisy MacKenzie, Mulbuie Primary
Second place
- The Secret View by Charlie Raven, Bonar Bridge Primary
Third place
- Quinn’s Secret by Alice Olesik, St Joseph’s Primary
Highly commended
- Maple by Jessie Forrest, Abernethy Primary
- The Dragon Summoner by Harris Cameron, Abernethy Primary
Commended
- Humans, Warriors and Wizards by Bernhard Almadin, St Joseph’s Primary
- The Prehistoric Predicament by Alexander Abu El Seond, St. Joseph’s Primary
- Matt’s Secret by Ethan Munro, Abernethy Primary
- The Half Birds by Ava Parmenter, Abernethy Primary
- Zombie Story by Maria Cameron, St Joseph’s Primary (this entry was untitled)
Award for Best School Entries Overall
- Jointly won by St. Joseph’s Primary school and Abernethy Primary School
Primary school winners judges’ presentation.
For all sections, the themes are quotes from Neil Gunn’s writing.
Adult Poetry and Short Story sections
The Adult Poetry section and Adult Short Story section were open to all writers worldwide. The writing was inspired by one of the following quotes from works by Neil Gunn: –
- “Wild Geese Overhead” (book title)
- “But already, behind, the new wave was gathering volume, massing itself, steadily advancing.” (Morning Tide)
Secondary schools (S3-S6)
The schools’ sections are open to pupils in selected year groups who attend Highland Council schools.
The secondary section is open to pupils from S3 – S6, whose writing was inspired by one of the following quotes: –
- “They turned from the known world behind and faced the moors”. (Highland River)
- “It was very quiet, with a quietness that was tall and far, delicate as a leaf, and soft-footed as the grass.” (The Well at the World’s End”)
Primary schools (P5-P7)
The primary section is open to pupils from P5 – P7, whose writing should be inspired by the following quote: –
- “It is a terrible thing to be bursting with a secret you can’t tell.” (Young Art and Old Hector)
High Life Highland and The Neil Gunn Trust thank everyone who entered or assisted with the competition and gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance provided by individual supporters and the following organisations: The Highland Council Wards 5 and 8, the Dr David Summers Trust and the Lydia Michael Trust.
Contact us
For all enquiries about the competition, please email [email protected] or telephone the Library Support Unit on 01349 781340.
Further information on the work of the Neil Gunn Trust can be found at www.neilgunntrust.org
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