Golden Sponge-stick Winners 2012

the coveted trophy

(guest post by Jeremy Pine)

‘pater’

This year’s competition attracted 200 entries nationally and internationally. Again there was a very wide range of schools and colleges competing. Many thanks to regular participants who keep the life blood of the contest pumping. Popular storylines continue to feature slavery, the Roman army, gladiators and the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Yet each year it is a revelation to witness how these well trodden paths are imaginatively retraced. Other innovations such as murder plots involving the emperor and Ovid’s love poetry showed meticulous historical research and heightened drama.  Fresh literary blood has also raised the energy, humour and creativity of the sponge stick enterprise and it is this youthful enthusiasm which is its golden heartbeat.

Prizes:  The allocation reflects the very popular 11-13 age category.

Under age 9 category winner :

Aya Kodmani, Pembridge Hall School for Girls

11-13 age category:

Winner: Lucy Johnson, St John’s School, Cambridge

2nd: Sophie Littlewood, St John’s School, Cambridge

3rd: Megan King, Stockport Grammar School

Commended: Jacob Freda, Bristol Grammar School

14 and above age category:

Winner: Ruby Osman, Sancton Wood School, Cambridge

2nd: Mia Forbes,  Nonsuch High School, Cheam

3rd: Adam Stanley, Cheadle Hulme School

Best International entry:
Marina Macklin, Highland School, Virginia, USA

Prizes for schools :

St John’s School, Cambridge (winner of Golden Sponge Stick school award)

Commended :  George Abbot School, Guildford, Norwich High School for Girls  

Special thanks :

To all the participating schools and pupils (whether you won on this occasion or not), Burgess Hill School for Girls, Barbara Johns (Head of Classics), Caroline Lawrence, Lorna Robinson and the iris project, Friends of Classics, Association for Latin Teachers, The Classics Library, JACT, Oxford University Classics Outreach, Cambridge University School Classics Project, Classical Association (for funding the prizes). Much love and thanks to my family, Carol (my mother) and my brothers, Neil and Robert for their continual encouragement.

Finally, one of this year’s winners, Jacob, wrote a story called ‘pater.’ I dedicate the youthful spirit and vision of this competition to my own ‘pater’, Malcolm, whose love of learning and the Classics inspired me and also to the teaching gifts of my sister, Lisa.

Caroline says: And I would like to thank Jeremy Pine for all the time and love he put into setting up and judging this competition. I will post some of the winning entries here over the next few weeks. Watch this space. To see some winning entries from this year – and from previous years – go HERE. 

Golden Sponge-Stick Comp 2012!

Are you a budding young writer?

Could you create the next Flavia Gemina or Falco?

Well, here's your chance.

Burgess Hill School presents to you a national writing competition for all UK and international school and college students, The Golden Sponge-Stick Competition.

To enter the quest for this coveted prize, please read on:

The story itself:
1. Your story should be a Roman story and based in Roman times. It can be set in any part of the Roman world. It can be either a Roman short story or a Roman mystery/detective story/thriller.
2. Your story should be an individual entry and written entirely by you. Please would a parent or guardian/carer sign your entry at the end or on the back to verify this.
3. Your story should not exceed 1500 words in length. Handwritten and typed entries are both welcome but please ensure that the handwriting is legible.
4. Knowledge of Latin is certainly not essential but you should display some historical research and/or knowledge of Roman daily life in you story. If you do study Latin then it would be excellent to use some in your story or dialogue.
5. Your story should have a clear, logical point, a set of characters, possibly including a hero/heroine and ideally a series of twists and a striking ending!

Please send your entries by email or post to:

Jerry Pine
Burgess School for Girls
Keymer Road
Burgess Hill
West Sussex
RH15 0EG

email: j.pine610 [at] btinternet.com

Good luck in your quest for the golden sponge-stick!

COMPETITION RULES AND DETAILS:

1) A panel of judges will choose the winning entries for each age category.
2) The age categories will be split into four:
ages 8 and below; ages 9-11; ages 12-13; ages 14 and above.
3) In each category three prizes will be awarded; the best in each will receive the prestigious golden sponge-stick. Other classical prizes including books and vouchers will be awarded.
4) Entries are welcome now and the closing date for all entries is Friday December 21 2012.
5) The judges reserve the right to keep all entries unless a stamped addressed envelope is included for return of your entry.
6) All winners will be notified of the result by Friday January 18 2012.

Note from Caroline: Although I am posting details of this competition here on my blog, it is run entirely by Jerry Burgess and is his invention. I can neither read submissions nor give advice, but I can point you to my WRITING TIPS page.

And three points of clarification:
1. The competition is open to children from all over the world, not just the UK. But the submission must be in English. 
2. The competition is open to home-educated children as well as those attending day or boarding schools.
3. The cut-off age is 18 (i.e. entrants should still be 18 years old on 31 Dec 2012)

I will be announcing the winners here on this blog in February 2013. Bona fortuna! Good luck!

P.S. If you don't know what a sponge-stick is, go HERE!
P.P.S. You could do this for NaNoWriMo for Kids!