For the second year running, the short story competition "A Sense of Mischief" was held as part of Durham Literature Festival, and to celebrate the life and work of local writer John Gamblin.
The winners of the competition were announced at an awards ceremony at Durham's Clayport Library on Wednesday 6th October, 2004.
The winners were:
- Trollett Towers, by Jessica McKeown - aged 10
- The judges said:
"We loved the names of some of the characters... We thought this story would appeal to fans of Harry Potter. It has a wonderfully dark ending."
Read Trollett Towers on-line - Mel by Amy Hunter-Pescetto, aged 14.
- The judges said:
"There was a good use of language to build up tension... A good illustration of trying to fit in, and what it feels like if you don't."
Read Mel on-line - Callum Murdo MacDonald and the Pinkish Blotch by Nell McGrath, aged 34.
- The judges said:
"A humorous story with a twist in the end..."
Read Callum Murdo MacDonald and the Pinkish Blotch on-line - Magic Place by Julie Lewis, aged 50+.
- The judges said:
"The language conveys a sense of place, and the joy of flying the kite..."
Read Magic Place on-line
Carol Attewell, Lending Services Librarian, conducted the awards ceremony with a style worthy of the Oscars; she built up the suspense while keeping her audience entertained. The evening began with an explanation of the competition, and a report on the entries in general. Carol then read through the short list, with the judges' comments on each short-listed entry. Next came a break for refreshments, and a quiz, and only after the quiz had been marked and the winner (after an exciting sudden death playoff) rewarded, did Eve Gamblin, John's widow, open the envelopes and announce the winning stories.
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2004 Report
In the competition's second year, it had spread beyond Durham City, to the whole North East of England. There were 40 entries in all, compared to 59 last year; the youngest entrant was 9, the oldest "over 60". The panel of seven judges was based at Durham's Clayport Library, and consisted of Carol Attewell (Lending Services Officer) and the Teenage Focus Group (which meets regularly in the Library to help improve the service to young people).
The 2003 judging team consisted of the Chatterboox Reading Group, but they wanted the chance to enter the competition in 2004!
The Judging Panel met on Tuesday 21st September. They issued a shortlist of three stories in each age group, but commented that the quality overall was not as high as last year, especially in the primary and 18-40 age groups (only 3 entries in the latter); where there were not three stories which they felt deserved to be shortlisted, the judges had listed fewer stories.
The full short-list was:
Primary
- Trollett Towers, by Jessica McKeown - aged 10
- Sweety Island, by Kimberley Anne Ryans - aged 10
Secondary
- Pink Rose, by Natasha Reid - aged 12
- Mel, by Amy Hunter-Pescetto - aged 14
- 2030, by Paul Richard Dharamraj - aged 16
18 - 40
- Callum Murdo MacDonald and the Pinkish Blotch, by Nell McGrath - aged 34
- A Duel Friendship, by Darren Ross - aged 31
Over 40
- Centenary Celebrations, by Joy C Swan - 60+
- Mr Paragon's Pate, by Maureen Haslehurst - 60+
- The Magic Place, by Julie Lewis - 50+