Winners

The 2006 David Gibson Cup was adjudicated on 4 October

WINNER: The Case for Lucky Jim, by Toby Frost

Toby argues convincingly for Kingley Amis's iconoclastic master work

(Adjudication by vote on the night)

The 2006 Crystal Decanter Competition was adjudicated on 31 May

WINNER: The Colour of Love, by Oscar Windsor Smith

An extremely powerful piece, well under the 1500-word limit, but with every one of its 700 words made to work hard enough for ten. The storm in this story is a remembered literal one, and a present metaphorical one - the storm of battle...throughout the narrative runs (literally) the theme of the title - the colour of love, the colour of blood, and there's one thing you can be sure about here is that it's a hell of a lot thicker than water.

RUNNER UP: Trope, by Jim Thompson

...this story did actually make me laugh out loud on more than one occasion. It started off nicely, with the fastidious language reflecting the character of the main protagonist, and then took an unexpected turn with the alternating viewpoints, building up to a very funny pay-off, along with a pleasantly inconsequential take on the bad weather theme.

THIRD: You'll Be a Man, My Son, by John Spencer

... nicely structured story...a good sense of the storm engulfing the balloon...the young man's encounter with what turns out to be his older self paved the way nicely for the final twist.

(Adjudication and summation by Jon Pinnock)

The 2006 President's Competion was adjudicated on 8 March

WINNER: One's A Wish, by Jim Thompson

And ordinary day of snot and wrapping up warm - with an ending like a kick in the gut.

RUNNER UP: Sunday Breakfast, by Barbara Cooper

Obsessive mothers love, and a hasty assumption ata time of crisis. Not a happy combination.

THIRD PLACE: Charlie's World, by Dave Weaver

When Charlie is hospitalised he can't even imagine the world he will return to...

(Adjucation by Nick Cook, summation by Ian Cundell)

The 2005 Crystal Decanter Competion was adjudicated on 1 June

WINNER:Rebel Without Applause, by Jon Pinnock

Suppose, just suppose, Jimmy had kept his Porsche on the road. A very witty exposition on the Butterfly Effect

RUNNER UP: Codename Boudicca by Oscar Windsor-Smith

For the want of a Y chromosome, great leaders are lost

THIRD PLACE: That Apple by Barbara Cooper

Adam and Eve go on the lamm, stretch the competition rules - but the tale hides its true darkness for the very last line.

(Adjucation by Ian Cundell, summation also by Ian Cundell)

The 2004 Lisbeth Philips competition was adjudicated on 1 December

WINNER: Walking into it by Wendy Turner

Slimmers nightmare, or slimmers dream?

RUNNER UP: Breaking the Fast by Barbara Cooper

A hugely evocotive journey of the senses through Morocco during Ramadan.

THIRD PLACE:Dinner with Sylvia by Jon Pinnock

Take many a contemporary food fear. Spice with a decidedly off-centre imagination. Simmer darkly.

(Adjucation by John Spencer, summation by Ian Cundell)

The 2004 David Gibson Cup competition was adjudicated on 6 October

FIRST PRIZE: Model by Jon Pinnock

The clear winner on the night, this is a decidedly modern take on The House of Wax.

Second Prize: The Bigger They Are by Kevin Bennett

If only the original tale that this riffs was half as entertaining (not for the easily offended).

(Adjudication by popular vote, summation by Ian Cundell)

The Lisbeth Phillip's 2003 Competion was announced on 3 December 2003

Click the name (if it's red and underlined) to read the story. The stories will open in a new window - simply close that window to return here.

FIRST PRIZE STORY Awarded to On The Edge by John Spencer

Interesting misdirection. Fear compounds as one circumstance reacts against the next building tension and terror, hapless humiliation and palpable fear. Clues a plenty ;an upbeat resolve - frightening, gripping entertaining. A difficult choice but I hope you’ll agree an outstanding winner.

SECOND PRIZE STORY - Awarded to The Undead by Wendy Turner

... had a dramatic fearful opening, helpless with terror panic isolation crushing darkness. Agonising solitary death: or to be eaten alive? Hope springs eternal in a glorious twist-tail resolve. Well crafted/plotted, littered with clues.

THIRD PRIZE STORY - Awarded to Jack In A box by Kevin Childs (who was also the ‘unpublished' winner).

...had tension passion, claustrophobia, asides and diversions; wretched creepyness, a hint of madness, confusion and a truly fearful build to an inevitable resolve. But even then it’s not over!!

(Adjudication and critique by Jes Guy)