The RHS Bath Golden Sponge-Stick Competition was launched in September 2008. It was inspired by the original idea of the very successful Roman Mysteries writer, Caroline Lawrence. She suggested, in a talk,that the Golden Sponge-stick would be a good award for the best Roman Mystery, after a little girl in Year 3 thought that Caroline’s sponge-stick was an award for her books!

A Golden Sponge-Stick competition devised by my colleague, Lynda Bevan, was successful at The Royal High School Bath last summer so we decided to organise a National Schools and Colleges Competition. The idea of the competition was to write a short Roman story, mystery or thriller which should be no longer than 1500 words. There were four age categories and the deadline for all entries was Friday November 21 2008.

Most pleasingly we received 298 entries overall with a  high standard of research and writing across all age categories. The students excelled in their imagination, development of plot, dialogue and thrilling twists and turns. Interestingly some of the finest entries centred on the emotions of animals, for example cats and rats as well as human beings. We very much hope that some of the winning entries will be published in some Classical publications. Watch this space……..

Here is a list of the winners and other placings for each category :
Winners /Placings: RHS Bath Golden Sponge-stick competition 2008

Under 9 age category :

1. Isabel Davies Jones , St Andrew’s School, Meads, Eastbourne, East Sussex

2. Eleanor Heathcock , Forest School, Timperley, Altrincham, Cheshire

3. Beth Seaman , St John’s College School, Cambridge

 

9-11 age category   :

1.  Emma Lewis , Berkhamsted Collegiate

2.  Alina Clare Young ,  St Paul’s School for Girls , London

3.  Angus Edward Henry King , Downsend School, Leatherhead

 

11 -13 age category  : 

1.  Josie Heesom , Stamford High School

2.  Eilidh Avison,  Harris Academy, Dundee

3.  Ava Davies , Wycombe Abbey School

 

14 and above age category :

1.  Lucy Edwards, Norwich High School for Girls

2.  Craig Rischmiller  Bristol Grammar School

3.  Katy Morgan, Wells Blue School

 

Many thanks to all students and teachers of the schools and colleges listed below for participating. There were many impressive contributions. Thanks also to the few home educated entries we received. 

School/College entries  :

Alderley Edge School for Girls, Babington House School, Bablake School, Beaconsfield School, Berkhamsted Collegiate, Bexley Grammar School, Birkdale School, Sheffield, Bishopston Comprehensive School, Bristol Grammar School, Bury Grammar School for Boys, Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, London, Cathedral School, Llandaff, Cardiff, Chatham Grammar School for Boys,Colchester RGS, Cundall Manor School, Devonport High School for Girls, Dollar Academy, Scotland, Downsend School, Leatherhead, Durham Johnston Comprehensive, Exmouth Community College, Forest School, Timperley,Ffynone House School, Swansea, George Abbot School, Guildford, Hampton Hill Junior School, Hampton Boys, Harlington Upper School, Harris Academy, Dundee, Heaton Manor Comprehensive School, Newcastle, Hertsmere Jewish Primary School, High Storrs School, Sheffield, Howell School, Llandaff, Ipswich School, Ipswich High School, King Henry VIII Senior School, Coventry, Loughborough High School, Loreto College, St. Albans, Lynn Grove High School, Marist Schools, Ascot, Moreton Hall Preparatory School, Bury St Edmunds, Northwood Preparatory School,Norwich High School, Nottingham High School, Putney High School, Redland High School, Bristol, Robert Clack School, Dagenham, Royal Manor Arts College, Rugby High School, Rugby, Rye St Antony School, St Andrews, Eastbourne, St Bees School, Cumbria, St John’s College School, Cambridge, St Leonard’s Mayfield School, St Mary’s Ascot, St Mary’s College, Crosby, St Mary’s School, Worcester, St Paul’s School for Girls , St Swithun’s School, Winchester,  Shrewsbury High School, Silverhall School, Winterborne, Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School, Rochester, Solihull School, Soham Village College, South Devon College, South Hampstead High School,  Springmead School, Beckington, Stamford High School, Staverton Primary School, Stoke Row C.E. School, Henley-on-Thames, Terra Nova School, Cheshire, The Beacon , Amersham, The Becket School, Nottingham, The Judd School, Tonbridge, The Kingsley School, Royal Leamington Spa, The Nicolson Institute, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, The Sholing Technology College, Southampton, The Study Preparatory School, Wimbledon, Tiffin School , Trinity Catholic High, Woodford Green, Victoria College, Belfast, Vinehall School, East Sussex, Wells Blue School, Wimbledon High School, Withington Girls School, Wycombe Abbey School, Bucks.

‘Honorary’ international entries :

 Resurrection- St Paul School, Ellicott, Maryland, USA
 St Stephen’s School, Rome

Special thanks to the following for their help and encouragement in various ways :  My family , The Royal High School Bath , ARLT, V. Barber, Ms L  Bevan , Mrs J Bent, Mr M Benton, Mr J Cox, Mr M Donnelly, Friends of Classics, Dr M Golder, Mr W Griffiths and Cambridge Latin Project, Mr D Goodman, JACT, Mrs C. Lawrence,  Mrs G  Manners, Mr A O’Donnell, Dr L Robinson and iris project, Mrs E Sandis , M Sansom , Mr A Wink and armamentaria.                

 

  Jerry Pine,
  Head of Classics, 
  Royal High Senior School Bath                    24.1.2009