Women take all the honours for this year's Christmas Short Story competition with Karla Lacey-Minors winning the adult category and Heather Trimingham, age 14, winning the Under 18.

For about 40 years The Royal Gazette has proudly sponsored its annual Christmas Short Story competition for adults and under 18; 155 stories were judged this year, with 13 adult stories and 142 stories from children under 18.

The Royal Gazette judges were: Mairi Mallon, Cathy Stovell, Beverley Causey-Smith and Henry Adderley.

Karla Lacey-Minors was the darling winner of the adult category, and the only adult awarded a prize out of the 13 entries.

Her story, `In Search of the Christmas Spirit' is about two Somerset children on a mission all over Bermuda and is written as a child's story.

Mairi Mallon explained the judges decision to give only one prize in the adult category: "There was only one entrant that met the right standard -- and was an excellent and amusing tale. There was a lightness of touch and a good sense of humour as well as more that just a smattering of Bermudiana.

"We decided not to give anymore prizes in the adult category because, quite frankly, no other deserved it.'' Heather Trimingham, age 14, wrote a winning story entitled, `The True You' about a teen boy, Sam, who begins evolving into an elf near Christmas. It shows emotions of hate, love and eventually happiness for a family.

Alex Lymbery, age 11, was the Runner-Up and wrote a clever tale, `Reindeer Fever'. Santa's reindeer become ill from hostile environments around the world and they discover the cure in Bermuda due to our clean air and seas.

There were two Exceptional Promise category awards given to Jessica Bacon, age 12, and Athea Jackson, age 11.

Miss Bacon's, `The Test' shows compassion for an injured dog with a big Christmas spirit and focuses on `doing the right thing'.

Miss Jackson's, `How Santa Came to Bermuda', strikes an historical beginning long before Bermuda was officially discovered centred on Santa and his Elves.

All of the child winners were from the Bermuda High School for Girls, as were the five honourable mentions given to Emma Pearson, age 12, Caitlin Conyers, age 10, Jessica Binns, age 12, Sarah West, age 10 and Se'annika Smith age 11.

Judge Cathy Stovell said: "Reading through the children's stories for this year's contest was entertaining. The entries were rich in creativity while sticking closely to the themes of Bermuda and Christmas.

"There was a Santa who crashed into a lighthouse, a cedar tree who was glad to go into a home, and mice who went shopping.'' "I was disappointed with the lack of male entries in the children's category.

Young boys tend to have a different perspective and create stories with a lot of fast paced action. Their absence was not only noticeable but sorely missed.'' Next year the judges hope to introduce many age group categories for the children. It is very difficult to choose between a 10 year old versus a 16 or 17 year old for a winner. Generally there is a vast intellectual difference between the younger and older writers in the Under 18 category.

News Editor, Henry Adderley said: "My general feeling was that a number of potentially good and imaginative stories were ruined at the end by the young authors rushing to finish and not letting the theme develop.

"I would suggest writers give themselves more time next year.'' The judges encourage the writers to focus on the theme `Christmas and Bermuda' and to aim for originality rather than feed off popular themes like television stories such as `The Grinch'.

Miss Mallon commented about the children's stories: "The imagination shown by some of the children made the reading of the stories a joy. However, it was disappointing to note that some parental guidance had overstepped the mark to interference, and the voice of the child obliterated by that of an adult.

Continued on page 10 Writers Continued from page 2 "One of the joys of reading children's writing is a certain naivete and unusual turn of phrase. To change a child's work is something every parent should avoid at all costs. Instead, encourage them to do their own thing.'' We do commend the winners, the honourable mentions and all who contributed stories and look forward to more stories next year.

Also, the art supplied by some of the writers was a very nice touch. We noticed that bit of extra effort, although the stories won on the merits of writing only.

We applaud Bermuda High School for Girls! At a reception honouring the winners and honourable mentions Editor, William J. Zuill said: "I think it is almost incredible that all the winners for the Under 18 category are from one school. And they are all girls! BHS is certainly on the road of achievement and is turning out literary students.'' Winners of the Christmas Short Stories with the Editor. From the left: Athea Jackson, Heather Trimingham, Editor, William J. Zuill, Jessica Bacon and Alex