Pictured below are Miss K Hill of the Bideford College English Department with winning students Gracie Walker and Millie Sutherland-O’Gara alongside Rotary Club President Michael Cane.

Bideford Bridge Rotary Club accepted entries to the National Young Writer Competition 2012 from 2 students at Bideford College. Gracie Walker wrote a poem entitled ‘Reach The Rings Of Your Olympic Dream’ and Millie Sutherland-O’Gara wrote prose entitled ‘The Spirit of the Olympics 2012′ and both these entries won first prize in the Devon Rotary District enabling the papers to be submitted to the National Competition of some 97 entries.

On 23rd May, a presentation of certificates and prizes were made to Gracie and Millie by Rotary Club President, Michael Cane in the company of College Principal, Veronica Matthews, Ian Brown, Head of English, English teacher Katie Hill, parents and friends of the winners and other Rotarians from the Club’s Youth Activities Committee.

“This competition reinforces just how talented and able our young writers are at Bideford College. Both students have had previous success within this competition and their entries which examined the theme of “Olympic Spirit” showed real imagination, flair and originality. We are all very proud of their achievements.” (Miss K Hill)

Rotary organise a full range of Competitions nationally to suit many attributes and apart from Young Writer, amongst others, there are Youth Speaks, Young Photographer, Young Technologist and Digital Arts awards.

Reach The Rings Of Your Olympic Dream – By Gracie Walker

Ring one for speed and agility,
Like bronze is a step forward,
A step that you may take,
You’ve worked hard and achieved it,
Strive harder: Can you feel it!

Carry your torch,
Sing your words,
Push your body,
Olympic medals!

Ring two for strength and joy,
Silver has been won,
You’re shiny and amazing,
You’re strong,
So just embrace it!

Carry your torch,
Sing your words,
Push your body,
Olympic medals!

Ring three for striding onwards,
You’ve tried,
But you just missed it,
Your hope fires on,
And so you’ve really kinda won!

Carry your torch,
Sing your words,
Push your body,
Olympic medals!

Ring four for working hard,
You’re nearly at the top,
Surprised yourself a lot today,
So go for it my friend,
And push your aspirations!

Carry your torch,
Sing your words,
Push your body,
Olympic medals!

Gold is the last step,
Five is soon to come,
Smiley, shining, dreams galore,
Crowds will shout near and far,
A proud family team and nation!

Carry your torch,
Sing your words,
Push your body,
Olympic medals!

Bronze and Gold and Silver,
Many will try and push harder,
To do their best,
And show the rest,
That five is what you’re after!

Carry your torch,
Sing your words,
Push your body,
Olympic medals!

YOU WALK ON THROUGH; YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE DONE YOUR BEST TODAY!

Intermediate Poetry- Comments from Judges: Gracie Walker

“You have developed a good rhythm in your poem illustrating the steps to achieve your Olympic dream. There is a good sense of pace and enthusiasm building up to a peak. This is a winner in this class.”

The Spirit of The Olympics 2012 – By Millie Sutherland-O’Gara

On the 5th day of Christmas, I received an oddly wrapped package in the post. Keen to see what waited inside, I tore off the first layer of garish blue paper. Confronted with yet another layer, I grimaced and continued on my arduous quest. When, finally, the contents spilled from the pile of torn debris, I was amused to find five gold rings. Smiling to myself, I put the skilfully crafted artefacts into my pocket and set off out of the door.

Humming quietly, I conveyed, through sound, a song I could not place, and yet could not so easily forget. With the, now rather irritating, little ditty firmly enclosed within my consciousness, I managed to make my way to the shops. The weather was appalling; thick, black storm clouds swarming the skies like bemused ants, carrying droplets of water on their backs. However, in all this commotion I was pleased to see the postman dutifully going about his work, delivering an object through every door-such determination should be rewarded.

A little further down the street, I was met with the familiar sight of a road sweeper, pushing the water down the drain with a small and feeble brush. He seemed to be enjoying his work, despite the cold and wet conditions. Humming a little louder now, I made my way into the local market place, with the intention of buying some food, but was taken aback by how many people were actually working so close to Christmas.

Surely there must be somewhere that such determined people can strive to achieve even greater accolades?

It was then that I remembered the rings in my pocket. With the firm intention of holding one to each of the duty bound workers, I fished them out of their seclusion. I must admit, however, I was slightly taken aback to find that the rings had severely decreased in amount. My five golden artefacts were now only one. I stopped. It seemed that they had melded together somehow; forming a logo absurdly striking in its nature. I stroked it carefully, but this was no mere trick of the light. I slowly walked over to the soft-drinks aisle, pondering all the way.

Perhaps I could use this logo as the formidable visual calling card of some great sports contest! With three rings on top and two on the bottom, I decided that it would work very well.

Perhaps the workers whom I had encountered on my journey would like to compete. Perhaps it would prove popular we could have a contest in both winter and summer!

I was sure that the street cleaner would make a fantastic curler; his brushing technique smoothing down ice to allow granite stone movement. I could bring curling into the mainstream.

With this sure found favourite in mind, I set about creating the most memorable contests I could.

It started very small; our humble town mayor agreeing to my plot-assuming it would provide publicity for the community. Sure enough sport enthusiasts came from far and wide to witness the two week long spectacular.

The postman, apparently, was a keen tennis player, adding to our list of sports incorporated within. We soon had a court to rival Wimbledon (it turns out that the Town Hall was larger than first anticipated) and the curling was a smash.

Smiling to myself, I watched the festivities unfold, as the many people indulged in the games, congratulating winners and losers alike. The determination of the contestants was like that of a goose, flying high into the air, not pausing, not stopping, but heading for the sun.

I don’t think my little idea will ever catch on; though surely there are other similar competitions everywhere? We just need to bring them together.

Maybe, in some universe similar to our own, this has already been achieved, in Greek times….perhaps…., but for now we must be content in the knowledge that, like our ancestors, we are aware of our need for perfection. I only wish that my rings symbolised that, instead of some mangled logo of a certain car manufacturer. After all, the contestants made an Olympic effort.

Intermediate Prose- Comments from Judges: Mille Sutherland-O’Gara

“You have cleverly devised a metaphor to show how the Oly,pic spirit could be developed. You have some lovely description which brings the piece alive. A good entry that has successfully used your imagination and connected it with some realities. A winner in this class.”

A huge “Well done to Gracie & Millie” from everyone at the College.