As another year ended for Ayr Writers’ Club, members gathered in the Carlton Hotel, Prestwick, for their Annual Awards’ Dinner, on May 8th.
Not only was it a convivial occasion, but also the chance to celebrate members’ successes in the eleven club competitions, and to award a trophy for the first time.
The Marion Montgomery Award for Poetry is a new trophy donated by the family of former club member Marion Montgomery, to honour
their mother’s memory. In addition, their generous donation paid for this season’s poetry speaker and adjudicator and will cover the costs of the poetry competition’s prizes in years to come. To help launch the trophy, the family also donated a one-off prize of £100, which was awarded to the winner, Nigel Ward, by Marion’s daughter, Margaret.
After a delicious meal, and plenty of chat, our awards ceremony began, giving trophy- winning members their red-carpet moment, and well-deserved rounds of applause!
Here is our list of trophy winners:
Book Review: Catherine Lang/Bioforce/Vogel Trophy – Stephen Cashmore
Drama/Scriptwriting: Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce Trophy – Greta Yorke
Scottish Article: JR & CH Mair Quich – Andy Fairie
Poetry: The Marion Montgomery Award – Nigel Ward
Women’s Magazine Story: Women’s Short Story Trophy – Thomas Malloch
General Short Story: Ellie Hamilton Trophy – Matthew Richardson
Non-Fiction Article: Cadas/Miller Shield – Chris Palmer
Children’s Fiction: Scotland’s Artist’s Trophy – Thomas Malloch
General Novel: Novel Writing Trophy – Fiona Johnson
Flash Fiction: Leigh Trophy – Kirsty Hammond
Ayrshire Drabble Competition: Little Bundle Box Trophy – Damaris West
Most Competition Points (Novice): Archie Quigley Trophy – Louise Cawson
Most Competition Points: Ishbel Robertson Trophy – Thomas Malloch
Published Writer of the Year: Dorrith Sim Trophy – Linda Brown
With the official handing over of the gavel, for the use of the incoming committee, and the drawing of the raffle, Ayr Writers’ Club’s red-carpet event was over, with the promise of another interesting and inspiring programme for the 24 – 25 season.
