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883 Bailiwick pupils from 26 different schools submitted short nature stories, making this year’s WriteStuff competition the most popular yet.
The competition, part of the Guernsey Literary Festival, is open to all Bailiwick students and this year invited them to produce an original 300 word story about the natural world.
Winners across four categories based on ability and age were announced at an awards event during the Festival, with those stories also read out by the UK-based judges.
This year’s Primary winner was Sybil Henderson from Notre Dame, the Intermediate winner was Sienna Wallen of Ladies College and the Senior winner was Jake Taylor of Elizabeth College. Winners in the SEND category were Jake Donaldson and Dylan Robilliard.
The judges for the competition were acclaimed writers, M G Leonard, Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, Sita Brahmachari and Huw Lewis-Jones, all of whom came to the island to take part in the Festival and present the awards
The stories were assessed on creativity, clarity, style and accuracy of language.
The winners received a cash prize, certificate, and an illustration created by local illustrator James De La Rue. There was also a trophy for the first in each class.
Pictured: Entrants attended an award ceremony at Les Cotils during the Festival.
Education President, Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen watched as the winners were announced. Later she paid tribute to the creativity and imagination of the entrants, as well as the island’s teachers for nurturing the competition.
She labeled the Festival a “significant annual event” in the local calendar.
Festival Honorary Chairman, Terry Waite also spoke about the importance of encouraging young people’s imaginations. It was important for the young to tell their stories, and not live their lives “with their song still in them”.
The Guernsey Literary Festival thanked Julius Baer for “once again” sponsoring the annual event.
Primary, judged by M G Leonard
1, Sybil Henderson (Year 3, Notre Dame) – Our Planet’s Lungs
2, Genevieve Driver (Year 5, Notre Dame) – Ivy and Stripe
3, Annabelle Shires (Year 6, Beechwood) – The Land of the Long Cloud
Highly commended
Jacinta Ozanne (Year 3, Notre Dame) – The Ferocious Tiger
Solomon Bearder (Year 5, Hautes Capelles) – The Sunken Village
Noah Le Noury (Year 4, Blanchelande) – The Battle for the Island
Hugo Gouveia (Year 4, Notre Dame) My Adventure in the Amazon Rainforest
Intermediate, judge by Joseph Coelho
1, Sienna Wallen (Year 7, Ladies College) – the Greenhouse
2, Herbie Stow (Year 9, Elizabeth College) – Small Fragile World
3, Annabelle Smith (Year 8, Ladies College) – Drifting
Highly commended
Amelie Rodliffe (Year 7, Ladies College) – My Perch
Noah Nicolle (Year 8, Elizabeth College) – The King of the Forest
James Robinson (Year 9, Elizabeth College) – Desert
Gabriel Bachman (Year 7, Elizabeth College) – My Peruvian Adventure
Erin Cullwick (Year 7, Elizabeth College) – The Final Orangutan
Senior, judged by Sita Brahmachari
1, Jake Taylor (Elizabeth College) – Trapped
2, Lily Strappini (Les Beaucamps High) – The Girl and Her Tree
3, Sam Savory (Elizabeth College) – My Escape
Highly Commended
Barney Paxton (Elizabeth College) – Hidden Away
Sommchai Blondin (St Sampson’s High) – Carrion
Jasmine Lockwood (Ladies College) – Wonder
Barton Wilkes (Elizabeth College) – A Lost World
Ralph Humphries (Elizabeth College) – Future
SEND category judged by Huw Lewis-Jones
Primary SEND winner
Jake Donaldson (Le Rondin) -- Luke and the Street Clean Crew
Highly commended
Fletch O’Hara (Forest) – Stormy Day
Secondary SEND winner
Dylan Robilliard (Le Murier) – Toasty and the Buzzard
Highly Commended
Charlie Mauger-Crowson ( Le Murier) – Why is Barry a Grizzly Bear?
Pictured (top): Front row L-R: Judges Huw Lewis-Jones, M G Leonard, Sita Bramachari and Joseph Coelho. Jean-Luc Le Tocq of sponsors Julius Baer is back left.
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