Jack Glover, Rebecca Sharkey and Sienna Lakin took the theme of A Different Perspective in their stride and produced fantastic pieces of writing, rightfully claiming first place in their categories.
Each entrant explored the theme in their own style, demonstrating the originality needed to go all the way in the competition.
To reach the final is an achievement in itself, as there are previous rounds prior to the national final.
This year’s winners engage all readers, with text varying from fiction, to nonfiction and poetry.
All entries were carefully constructed, especially by junior champion Jack, whose adventure-filled tale of Gary the grape personified the journey of our food being eaten.
My seeds were all a quiver. I felt a sudden rush as what was left of me slid down its throat in to its esophagus.”
Senior winner Sienna put pen to paper about the varying opinions of perfection.
She spoke about a doctor’s perspective on her new born sister’s Down Syndrome, and how she thought this was untrue.
By challenging the reader’s mind on their perception of perfect, she left a lasting impact.
Rebecca Sharkey, winner in the intermediate category, spoke about two different sides to an individual.
Rebecca opted to submit a poem for her entry, and took on a challenging topic, putting us in the shoes of a protagonist wrestling themes of gender, identity and conformity.
This year’s judging panel contained four literary experts, Michael Sutherland-Harper, Mary Bingham, Tash Radford and Sue Stevens.
Tash, founder of Chicken and Frog Bookshop, expressed, “It’s always a huge pleasure to read children’s writing.
“This year’s entries were excellent, which made the judging very tricky!”
My Digestive Journey – Jack Glover
“It’s digestion time. I wasn’t ready for this at all. I sat in its stomach for what seemed like an eternity. All I could think of was the Cherry Bakewell I had passed along the way. Don’t humans know it is unhealthy. At least it had eaten some vegetables, as part of a carrot hit me on the way down.
The water it drank earlier that very nearly drowned me, it has left it wet through in here. I should have worn my swim shorts.”
Junior
- Jack Glover
- Isabella O’Shea
- Hugo Rees
Intermediate
- Rebecca Sharkey
- Jack Lewington
- Lilly Tibbitts
Senior
- Sienna Lakin
- Hamza Shahid
- Isabel Stephens
Read all three first place pieces here
This year, to commemorate the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, a one-off Young Poet contest was held.
The topic was simply “A Poem for the Wedding of (Prince) Harry and Meghan (Markle)”
This was open to students aged 7 – 11 and 12 – 17 years.
23 poems were sent to Prince Harry’s private secretary, with a card designed by Interact and RotaKids clubs sponsored by Brynmawr Rotary Club.
Rotary host numerous Youth Competitions every year, which students aged 7 – 17 can enter.
Next year’s topic is ‘My Inspiration’; so, let the ideas begin ticking!
