for excellence in writing, newspaper design and photography.

The annual awards are open to reporters, assistant editors and sub-editors of The Royal Gazette and the Mid-Ocean News , who compete for first, second and honourable mention places in five categories.

Winners are as follows: News Story 1st place: Raymond Hainey (Royal Gazette) for his story on the Dr.

Peters controversy at Bermuda College. 2nd place: Stephen Breen (Royal Gazette) for his story on children sleeping on the floor. Honourable Mention: Jonathan Kent for his story on the Clive Best controversy.

News Feature 1st place: Rebecca Zuill (Mid-Ocean News) for her story on the Warwick cellular tower controversy. 2nd place: Kim Dismont-Robinson (Royal Gazette) for her first-person story on the Bermuda Regiment boot camp.

Honourable Mention: Nancy Acton (Royal Gazette) for her profile of C.V. (Jim) Woolridge (The Voice of Summer) and Nicole Williams Smith (Royal Gazette) for her Christmas story of unsung heroes.

Newspaper Design 1st: Ivan Clifford (Mid-Ocean News assistant editor).

Honourable Mention: Marcus Day (Royal Gazette sub-editor).

Magazine Writing: 1st: Roger Crombie (freelance, writing in RG) for his 20th century wrap-up. 2nd: Patricia Calnan (Mid-Ocean News, writing in RG) for her feature on the restoration of the Pembroke Canal.

Photography 1st: Ras Mykkal for his photo of a motorcross rider. 2nd: Arthur Bean for his photo of a bloody, storm-tossed dolphin.

The Ridgway Awards are named for the late Commander Guy Ridgway who was chairman of the board of the Bermuda Press Ltd. -- the parent company of The Royal Gazette and the Mid-Ocean News -- for many years. The Newspaper Design category is new, and Mr. Clifford and Mr. Day are the first winners.

"The judges were very impressed with the quality of entries in all categories, but particularly singled out the entries for news,'' said Royal Gazette Editor Bill Zuill.

"This is very encouraging as the newspaper continues to strive for the highest standards of relevance, fairness and accuracy. These awards show that we are achieving this, and are breaking stories which are of importance to the whole community.'' The write stuff!: Winners of The Royal Gazette and Mid-Ocean News 1999 Ridgway Awards for writing, newspaper design and photography are joined by editors William J. Zuill (left) and Tim Hodgson (right). They are, from left: Jonathan Kent, Ras Mykkal, Rebecca Zuill, Ivan Clifford (sitting), Raymond Hainey, Stephen Breen, Nancy Acton (sitting), Patricia Calnan and Roger Crombie.

Missing are: Kim Dismont-Robinson, Nicole Williams Smith, Arthur Bean and Marcus Day.