2020 Article Competition Results
7th December - Results 2020 Article Competition (2020-12-15 17:03:59)
The challenge was to write 1000 words on the theme of the one piece of advice I would give. The judge was the editor of the Maidenhead Advertiser James Preston. James gave detailed feedback of all the entries.
First and the Poetry Trophy: Short Cut by John Downing
Second place: Never Rly On Spellcheck by Neil Dickinson
Third place: To Write Lists by Robert Kibble
Highly commended: If You Want My Advice by Michael Pearcy
Picture shows the judge and the three winners clockwise from top left: James Preston (editor of Maidenhead Advertiser), John Downing, Neil Dickinson and Robert Kibble.
Old Windsor-based writer John Downing has shown he is the worthy winner of the 2020 Slough Writers Endeavour award by going on to win the group's annual article competition.
The Endeavour award is given to the member who has yet to be published or win a competition but continues to practise their art and improve.
The December article competition on the theme of the one piece of advice I'd pass on was judged by Maidenhead Advertiser editor, James Preston.
John's winning article Short Cuts tells the harrowing story of a ski trip in Verbier, Switzerland. Instead of returning to the village using ski-lifts, John decided to take what he thought was a short cut. The serious mistake left the writer with a terrifying choice - spend the night in an uninhabited area closed off to skiers or risk a perilous walk down the mountain in pitch blackness.
Second place was awarded to Neil Dickinson for his witty article Never Rly On Spellcheck. Robert Kibble took third place with his amusing piece To Write Lists and Michael Pearcy received a highly commended with his thought-provoking If You Want My Advice.
Slough Writers has been holding weekly meetings for over 50 years and has continued to hold them, albeit remotely, throughout the Covid pandemic.
Report by Lorraine Forrest-Turner