Mane Chance Sanctuary is delighted to announce details of their inaugural Mane Chance Writing Competition in association with Blue Max Banner Ltd and supported by Surrey Occasions. Renowned author, poet, playwright and British Children’s Laureate, Michael Morpurgo, OBE, will be chairman of the panel of judges. If you would like a unique opportunity to have this literary genius read your composition, then this competition is for you.
Write your poem or short story (max 1,500 words) about horses, ponies or any animals and our special relationships with them and submit it in your category. The competition will be judged in 4 age categories, 3 for children and 1 for adults. As an added incentive, the 3 winning children will also win £500 worth of Sportswear for their school.
The categories are as follows :
10 yrs & Under- First prize £25 plus t-shirt & £500 worth of Sportswear for your school. Second Prize £10 plus t-shirt
11 – 14 years – First prize £50 plus £500 worth of Sportswear for your school. Second Prize £25
15 – 18 years - First prize £100 plus £500 worth of Sportswear for your school. Second Prize £50
Adults – First prize £100. Second Prize £50
Additional horse-related prizes for all Highly Commended entries.
Mane Chance Sanctuary, whose mission is to rescue and rehabilitate old, abused and abandoned horses, was founded in 2011 by actress Jenny Seagrove. The 47 acre site in Compton, Surrey is a vast oasis of peace and tranquillity and currently home to 26 residents. The horses are integrated within the local community and the sanctuary regularly welcomes sick, special needs and under privileged youngsters to visit. They also take the equine residents to those unable to travel. Jenny Seagrove, founder of Mane Chance Sanctuary said; “We are absolutely thrilled to be able to offer children and adults the chance to have their composition read by the wonderful literary talent that is Michael Morpurgo. All entry fees will go directly to the upkeep of the horses at the Sanctuary and towards the work we do with people too”.
The Judging Panel will be led by Michael Morpurgo, OBE and will comprise Jenny Seagrove, Sara Crowe and Lynne Chitty. All winning entrants will have their composition published in Surrey Occasions and will be invited to attend a prize giving at the Mane Chance Open Day in late August including VIP Family Ticket and Guided Park Tour. Full details are available at www.manechancesanctuary.org/writing
I have attached a poster about the event and would greatly appreciate if you could circulate same among your members to let them know about this unique competition. If you require any further information, please feel free to contact me anytime. Many thanks in anticipation.
Pam Gaffney
Event Co-ordinator
Mane Chance Sanctuary
www.manechancesanctuary.org
Thanks again to those who came along to the Writers' Cafe at Westbourne library last week. Lovely to see you all there, especially the handful of new faces.
As promised, here are some links that may be of interest:
1. Next Ipswich Writers' Cafe will be back at Coffeelink on the waterfront on Thurs 2nd July as part of Ip-art:
2. Ipswich will host its very own Midnight Run on Fri 3rd July, also as part of Ip-art:
3. Felixstowe Book Festival's 1000 word short story competition (theme: "In The Margins") closes Sat 16th May:
4. Micro Bookends is a weekly 100 word competition based on first word, last word and a photo:
5. National Flash Fiction Day's 500 word competition (your chance to be in a published anthology!) closes Fri 15th May:
6. 130 Story runs daily on Twitter: write a story in 130 characters to include a given word:
7. The Festival of Suffolk Poetry will be held on 30th May 2015 at the John Peel Centre in Stowmarket:
8. Mai Black runs various creative writing courses locally:
9. Paul Sutton Reeves is forming an Ipswich Writers' Group "to appeal to those who have been writing for some time or have a project in hand, who want coherent criticism and support and who are capable of giving such criticism themselves":
That's enough wordage from me. See you at the next Writers' Cafe on 2nd July!
Ed
