The Martin Wills Memorial Trust, a UK-registered charity, is offering its 17th annual awards for creative writing.
The annual awards is for creative writing (fact or fiction) on, or with a background in, any aspect of horseracing by young people resident in the UK or the Republic of Ireland.
Particular importance will be attached to originality, enthusiasm an
d use of language. Quality of writing is key; a detailed knowledge of horseracing is unnecessary.
Past prize winners include Chris McGrath (now of The Independent), Donn McClean (now of The Sunday Times), Theodora Fairley (now of the The BBC), Harry Macadam (later of The Sun), Ben Sheppard (now of Agence France Presse) and Amy Bennett (later of the Racing Post).
Those aged under 26/19/15 at 1 January 2009 are invited to submit a single article by 28 February 2009 via the "Entry Requirements" section of the Trust's website www.willswritingawards.co.uk.
Employees of the national and racing press and previous winners in their category are ineligible.
The maximum word counts are 1,200 (under 26s/19s) or 800 (under 15s).
The article must not be published prior to the announcement of the winners of the awards.
No correspondence will be entered into and the judges' decision is final. Schools should, please, not submit more than three entries per class.
The awards will be announced and presented at the Craven Meeting at Newmarket on Wednesday 15 April 2009, when all six prize winners will be given an expenses paid day's racing, including a reception in a private luncheon room generously made available by the Racecourse. There will also be a tour of two leading stables.
Information on the awards is available on www.willswritingawards.co.uk Enquiries to Charles Ponsonby on 020-7367 8851 (tel) / 020-7367 8899 (fax) / charles.ponsonby@bankside.com (e-mail) or, in Ireland, Andrew Kavanagh on 059-97 73105 (tel) / 059-97 73420 (fax) / borrishouse@eircom.net (email).
