The annual Short Story Competition organised by the Gibraltar Cultural Services on behalf of the Ministry for Culture in conjunction with the Gibraltar Chronicle attracted a total of 275 entries from children in School Years 4 to 13 and adults. The Minister for Culture, the Hon Steven Linares, presented the awards on Wednesday 1st June 2016 at 4.30pm at the John Mackintosh Hall.

A panel of judge’s composed of Mrs Aida Delaney, Mrs Patsy Scott, Mrs Concha Triay and Mr Charles Durante judged the competition.

In presenting the prizes today, Minister for Culture, the Hon Steven Linares, said: ‘Literature plays an important role in our cultural development and hence, why it is important that we continue to promote it in our festival umbrella, alongside other cultural genres. I take this opportunity to thank the Gibraltar Chronicle, the Department of Education and our panel of judges for getting involved in this project, as well as all the participants, who without their support, our Short Story competition would not be possible.’

The Prize winners are:

Adult Category

Winner: Jackie Anderson – ‘Trouble for Tea’’

Runner-up: Anne Catherine Humphries – ‘Keep in Touch’

Highly Commended: Edwin Poggio – ‘The Frenzied Stream’

Years 12/13 Category

Winner: Laureanne Broton– ‘The Black Box’

Years 8/11 Category

Winner: Ruth Simcha Wahnon – ‘A Life of Music’

Runner-up: David Garcia – ‘The Choice’

Highly Commended: Callum Gilfillan– ‘The Taxi’

Years 6/7 Category

Winner: Ryan Clinton – ‘The Impossible Task’

Runner-up: Tomas Novotny – ‘The School Elves’

Years 4/5 Category

Winner: Asia Kent – ‘The Cycle of Spring’

Runner-up: Arabella Barton – ‘The Magic Emerald’