This year's Christmas Short Story Competition created many interesting stories, with Patricia Rae Barboza winning the adult category and child writer, Gary Furtado, winning the Under 18 category.

For about 40 years The Royal Gazette has proudly sponsored the annual competition for adults and under 18s; 119 stories were judged this year with 24 adults and 95 children taking part. However we had a decrease of 93 stories from last year. We hope that more people in both categories enter next December.

The Royal Gazette judges were: Cathy Stovell, Rene Hill, Beverley Causey-Smith and Colin Thompson.

The winning stories, including the runner-ups and the exceptional promises will appear in The Royal Gazette's Christmas Eve newspaper. Hopefully we will print the honourable mentions space permitting.

There was one adult honourable mention that was a true story written by Georgette Cassidy for 'A Baby's First Christmas' while four children were given mentions.

The winners in both categories received the sums of $300, $200 went to the runners-up and $100 was awarded to the exceptional promises, one in the adult category and two in the Under 18 category.

Here is a synopsis of the winning stories including the honourable mentions:

Adult winner: Patricia Rae Barboza for "The Treasure Within" where there is an auction at the Barn, in aid of Bermuda's Hospital Auxiliary. A young woman and her five-year-old daughter are quite surprised when they open the box. It is very amusing and has a tiny bookworm that is freed from an old book and the reader learns about the magical wonders of the Yuletide Season.

Adult runner-up: Simieon Massey for "A Dolphin's Christmas Tail" a fanciful tale about two happy families of Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins who vacation in Bermuda for two years. There are many interesting characters such as Oculi, the octopus and Mrs. Parrotfish at John Smith's Bay. Bad weather brews on Christmas Eve but sea dreams are met when Christmas day turns out beautiful and sunny.

Exceptional Promise: Tricia Walters for "The Christmas Angel" is a touching story about an elderly Mrs. Simmons, bent over with the cruelty of age. She lives life by looking through her window at the happy little family next door comprised of a little girl named Ashley and her parents. Sadly, Ashley dies and something magical and mystical occurs to impact the old woman's life.

Honourable Mention: Georgette Cassidy for "A Special Baby's First Christmas" is a true story about a baby girl who is given a Christmas present by her father. It is a black and white dog doll that drastically alters the family's perception of the tiny girl, Teena. Both Teena and the little doggie were present at The Royal Gazette awards on Thursday afternoon, December 12.

UNDER 18s

Child winner: Gary Furtado, aged 13, for "The Christmas Kite" unfolds through the eyes of a kite named Kirby. He has an interesting conversation with the Banana-leaf angel, a Bermuda Cedar Bell and a Gombey ornament about Christmas traditions and in the end, is given life on Christmas Day as Bermuda's first Christmas Kite!

Child runner-up: Jay Bush, aged 13, for "A Bermuda Christmas Tradition" is an intricate and poignant tale about a teenage girl named Erica who is surrounded by elderly relatives for a Christmas dinner with a special cassava. After dinner she and grandmother go to the attic where they retrieve an ancient book about slavery and how her ancestors brought cassava seeds along with their heritage to Bermuda.

Exceptional Promise: Two writers, William Broughton, aged 9 for "The True Meaning of Christmas" and 13 year old Ashley Hawker's "Bermuda's miracle That Saved Christmas":

William writes through the heart of a little mouse as he ponders Christmas and his friends, an old tree frog, a brown Chihuahua and a cat and finally a young boy explains about Mary, Joseph and Jesus to the trio.

Ashley's tale depicts Rudolf as having a sleep disorder, narcolepsy, noticed while they are vacationing in Bermuda during summer. News of this ailment was forwarded to BBC World Service Radio, which broadcasts the new news worldwide to seek a cure. A local Bermudian teacher at the Bermuda College ends up the hero with a cure for Rudolf, as

well as humans. Santa and all the reindeer get home safely and prepare for their big journey on the 25th of December.

Child Honourable Mentions:

Kirsten Spencer-Arscott, aged 10, for "Santa's Christmas Crash" depicts a little girl named Maggie McNagle who helps Santa after a crash at Gibbs Hill Lighthouse.

Shakir Hodsoll, aged 13, for "The Christmas That Almost Never Happened" writes a tale about Santa cancelling Christmas but comes around after people of Bermuda get back to the real Christmas spirit.

Megan Aguiar, aged 17, for "A Bermudian Christmas" about a dedicated daughter who works very hard to obey her parents. She loves gardening and animals and one Christmas under her Cedar tree she finds Ruby, a much desired puppy.

Miguel Estrella, aged 13, for "What a Dream!" depicts a story in local Bermuda dialect centred on a boy waking up to his Momma callin. "Boy ya got till de count a three!"

All writers are commended for stories and we thank all who entered.The judges comments will be included in the Christmas Eve Supplement and will give you editorial insight.We hope the stories bring you laughter and joy during the holiday season.