| 2008 BURNS COMPETITIONS |
‘More talent than the X Factor – more colourful than Strictly Come Dancing'
Banks, Braes & Bogles judge Janice Forsyth
In September 2008, we asked bairns from aw ower Scotland tae draw picturs and write stories tae help us celebrate the Scots language of Robert Burns.
Oor braw kenspeckle judges - Andrew Wolffe, Janice Forsyth and Liz Lochhead - had nae idea whaur the entries were fae and they hae been warkin awfie hard tae tell us wha’s won the 2008 Itchy Coo/Centre for Robert Burns Studies Scots Drawing and Writing Competitions.
| Birdies & Beasties P1-P4 |
First prize: Christopher Cellier, P2, Westruther Primary, Scottish Borders
Second prize: Magnus Manson, P4, St Andrew’s Primary, Orkney
Third prize: Tegan Clark & Charlotte Bruce, P3, St Margaret’s Primary, Falkirk
To see the winners and the top 30 drawings, click here.
Christopher Cellier has won the top prize out of the whole of Scotland for Birdies & Beasties competition. Christopher is a Primary 2 pupil at Westruther Primary School which is in the beautiful Scottish Borders. The competition judge was Andrew Wolffe who had to choose one winner from 99 drawings. It was a very hard job but Andrew said he gave first prize to Christopher because his Crabbit Doo ‘just made me laugh out loud.’ 
Congratulations to Christopher and Miss Christie’s P2 class at Westruther. Christopher has won for the school a class set of Karen Sutherland’s new Itchy Coo book, Rabbie's Rhymes.
And we want to say very well done to Magnus Manson from Orkney who has won second prize. Magnus is in Mrs Kirkness’ Primary 4 class at St Andrew’s Primary in Toab. Magnus drew a extremely Braw Craw indeed.
Hamish the Houlet was drawn by two friends working together. Tegan Clark and Charlotte Bruce are in Mr Kildea’s Primary 3 class at St Margaret’s Primary in Polmont. Their marvellous Houlet has won them a well deserved 3rd prize. A package of Itchy Coo books will be in the post to Magnus, Tegan and Charlotte.
We are very grateful to Andrew Wolffe, author of the braw Rory adventure stories, for judging Birdies & Beasties. 100 entries were received in all with hundreds more pupils taking part in schools from 18 local authorities. Andrew thought that each and every entry was fabulous. He has commended 7 entries and Itchy Coo will send each commended pupil a book.
Commended entries
Helena Travis, P2 Tarland PS, Aberdeenshire for A Bonnie Troot
Kalsoom Aamir, P5 Langside PS, Glasgow for Bonnie Dug
Abbie Browning, P4/5 Georgetown PS, D&G for A wee baudrans
Jack Kellet, P2 Head of Muir PS, Falkirk for A wee bonnie sonsie dug
Rachel Moore, P1 St Winning’s PS, North Ayrshire for A greetin coo
Katy Rigby P2 Newport PS, Fife for A sonsie dug
Lucas Howitt, P3 Mossneuk PS, South Lanarkshire for Partan
Andrew commented that all the entries for Birdies & Beasties ‘confirmed my belief that there are great young creative talents in this country’ and he gave these 5 pupils a Special Mention.
Danny Clarke P2 St Winning’s PS, NA A lowpin hurchin
Danielle Sherwood P2 Gordon PS, Scot. Bords Baudrans
Joe Ellis P3 Craigie PS, P&K A gallus puddock
Chloe Mitchell P2/3 Broomlands PS, NA A bonnie moosie
Toni Morrison P3 St Andrew’s PS, Falkirk A tottie tod
Thanks to everyone for taking part. You all did very very well. Look out for more competitions from Itchy Cool.
Scots Language activities for P1 – P4
Although all the Burns competitions are now finished, here is the Birdies & Beasties competition pack for you to try the Scots activities whenever you want.
Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns loved animals. All sorts of creatures pop up in his poems. And as a farmer, he spent a lot of time out of doors enjoying the Scottish countryside.
P1-P4 Birdies and Beasties Competition Pack (193kb pdf download)
| Banks, Braes & Bogles P4-P7 |
First prize: Paul Davis, P7, Lasswade Primary, Midlothian Second prize: Niamh Hardie, P5, Hill o Beath Primary, Fife
Third prize: Liam Sutherland, P7, Pultneytown Academy, Highland Caithness
To see the winners and the top 40 entries, click here Muckle congratulations are in order for Paul Davis at Lasswade Primary. Paul is the winner of our Banks, Braes & Bogles competition 2008. He has won a set of Alan Burnett’s ‘Burns and all that’. Congratulations are also due to his teacher, Miss Christie, and the rest of his P7 class. Paul’s drawing and quote from ‘Tam o Shanter’ came first out of 125 other amazing Burns quotations and pictures. Our judge, the broadcaster Janice Forsyth, said that Paul’s entry was ‘beautifully executed, had lots of detail, a singular style AND was blooming scary!!’
Well done to Niamh Hardie from Hill o Beath Primary for winning second place for her clever picture from the poem ‘Tae a Moose’. Janice loved Niamh’s drawing because ‘it simply and clearly illustrated the theme and made me laugh.’ Janice also commented on Niamh’s great imagination and said that the entry was ‘kind of Robert Burns meets Samuel Beckett meets an 8 year old.’ (We know who Burns was, Niamh Hardie in this case is the 8 year old, but maybe some of the older bairns could find out about Samuel Beckett.) Niamh has won a selection of Itchy Coo books.
And Janice liked Liam Sutherland’s modern take on the song ‘The Deil’s Awa’ so much she has awarded it third place. Liam is in Miss Harper’s P7 class at Pultneytown Academy (which sounds like a secondary but is actually a primary) in Wick in Caithness. Our excellent judge pure lapped up ‘the dancing exciseman and the shadeswearing deil.’ Liam has also won a poke of Itchy Coo titles. There were so many brilliant entries for this competition that Janice said she had a very hard time deciding on her top three. She thought it was a great competition and she ‘LOVED, LOVED, LOVED’ all the drawings and quotes. Here are the pupils whose work has won a commendation from Janice. Each of the 7 pupils in the list below will receive an Itchy Coo book.
Commended
Alisha Mann P7, St Boswell’s PS, Scottish Borders Tam skelpit on … Abby Smith P6, Ollaberry PS, Shetland Kirk Alloway was … Sohaila Safavi P5/6, Caledonia PS, North Ayrshire, And ilka bird … Katie Mollison P4, Luthermuir PS, Aberdeenshire Auld baudrans … Lamond Sutherland P7, Carrick Knowe PS, Edinburgh Ye Jacobites … Natalie Lawrence P5, Carrick Knowe PS, Edinburgh How pleasant thy banks .. Kerry Hunt P7, Carrick Knowe PS, Edinburgh frae Tae a Louse And Janice wanted to give a Special Mention to these 5 pupils. Their pictures and quotes were superb and deserve a mention.
Special mention
Erin Lannigan P4, Broomlands PS, North Ayrshire O Jeannie, dinna toss … Danielle Bennison P5/6, Broomlands PS, North Ayrshire Cauld blaws the wind.. Eilidh Lyall P7, Lasswade PS, Midlothian But withered beldams.. Scott Coomber P5, Carrick Knowe PS, Edinburgh The lee-lang nicht… Chloe Wilson P6, Avonbridge PS, Falkirk Twa dugs that werenae.. Well done to everyone. Thank you for all your hard work. And a big thanks to all the teachers for organising and sending the pictures in to us. Look out for more Scots Language competitions from Itchy Cool.
Scots Language activities for P4 – P7
Although all the Burns competitions are now finished, here is the Banks, Braes and Bogles competition pack for you to try the Scots activities whenever you want.
Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns loved to describe the natural world. He wrote many poems about the wildlife, streams, hills and flowers he saw all around him. He also enjoyed writing about things he couldn’t see, things from the supernatural world like ghosts and witches and other kinds of spooky creatures.
P4-P7 Banks, Braes and Bogles Competition Pack (271kb pdf download)
| Burns' Voices P6-S2 |
First prize: Jack Cuthbertson, P7, Conon Bridge Primary, Highland
Second prize: Molly Burns, P7, St Boswell’s Primary, Scottish Borders
Third prize: Hannah Wright, P6, Sound Primary, Shetland
Itchy Coo and the Centre for Robert Burns' Studies are delighted to announce the winners of our Scots writing competition, Burns' Voices.
We asked you to write in Scots from the point of view of a creature or character which appears in a poem by Robert Burns. And you sent us scripts with the voices of cuddies, mice, bairns and beasties, and even a cat.
Liz Lochhead who was the judge of this competition said all the entries were 'lovely fresh and creative, full of sound and Scots voices'. Many thanks to Liz for reading through all the entries.
Ah'm cawed Meg and ah'm a fine grey mare....
Jack Cuthbertson from Conon Bridge Primary is our winner for his exciting retelling of Tam o Shanter. Weel done, Conon Jack!
To read Jack's story, scroll doon.
Commended
Euan Burns, P6, Sound Primary, Shetland
Ross Bunting, S1, Duncanrig Secondary, South Lanarkshire
Katie Tait, P6, Sound Primary, Shetland
Fred Culley, P7, Cleish Primary, Perth & Kinross
Emma Clanahan, P7, Girvan Primary, South Ayrshire
Amy Platt, S1, Duncanrig Secondary, South Lanarkshire
Special Mention
Rachel Muirhead, P7, Bowhouse Primary, Falkirk
Amy Gordon, S2, Larkhall Academy, South Lanarkshire
Megan Ferguson, S1, Banchory Academy, Aberdeenshire
Megan Collie, P7, Gardenrose Primary, Scottish Borders
Marnie Archibald, Jamie Ozad, Kelsea Hendry & Mary-Jane Flynn, St Marie’s Primary, Fife
1st place
Meg the Horse
Ah’m cawed Meg and ah’m a fine grey mare.
Ah ken fine horses dinnae aften speak but ah’ve git a tale tae tell. Ah wis waitin ootside the auld tavern for Maister Tam who’d been inside as usual wi his auld freend, Souter Johnie. He lowpit on tae ma back, nae a care in the world, ignorin his ain wife Kate’s advice no tae stay oot tae late and nae git drunk. We galloped on through the nicht, Tam singin his hairt oot until we cam tae the auld Kirk Alloway. The lichts bleezed on sae ah slowed doon and wis afraid tae gang any further sae Tam urged me on tae investigate. Ah stood hinkin aboot the hey that wis waitin for me in ma ain stable aw warm and safe until ah pit ma heid up tae see an unco sicht o warlocks and witches dancin roon the graves. Ah looked even further tae see the Deil himsel playin his pipes. The great black hairy beast sat there horns as shiny as polished pearls and his tail lookin as shairp as if it had a sting in it. Ah stood there, ma mooth drappin doon further and further tae the groond ablow until ma stupit maister blurted oot, “Weel done, Cutty Sark!” Nae sooner had he said this then the lichts went oot and the band o ghosties and ghoulies cam poorin oot. Tam skelped ma back and we chairged aff intae the stormy nicht. Ah wis gaun as fast as possible but ah had a haill load o witches on ma tail. We heided for the river because witches cannae cross runnin watter. “Why did he no take his wife’s advice and steyed at hame?” ah thocht.
“Thae bloomin witches,” Tam scraiched. He dooshed me harder and harder until ah could gae nae faster and ah lowped. Jist as ah did this, a witch poued ma tail and ah felt an almichty tug. We were safe.
Ah made it ower the keystane o the brig but yon witch tore ma braw grey tail richt aff. Sae there ye are. Ma maister’s an eejit and ah’m a grey mare wi nae mair tail tellin ye this tail aboot hoo ma tail come aff.
Jack Cuthbertson, P7, Conon Bridge Primary, Highland
First runner up
The Wounded Hare
Wi this hindmaist breath, ah’ll tell ye whit happened tae me this verra efternoon.
Ma day stairted aff like ony ordinary ane but if ah had kent that this day wad be the end o me, ah sweir ah wad hae enjoyed ilka moment o thae pink skies which had met me ilka mornin at the stairt o ma life. Noo, in ma verra last moments, Ah’ve said a lovin fareweel tae ma wee weans. Sic bonnie babbies. Ah hope they tak care o their mither.
Here’s ma tale then…
Ah stairted ma traivels doon by the burn. The winter glinted fair bonnie in the early mornin sunlicht as ah ran amang the drookit banks. Ah ran fair joyous-lik wi the cauld win blawin ower the lush green braes still covert wi the mornin dew. Ah wis fu o the joys o livin, no a concern or worry until…
A lood din rang ower the banks and braes followed by a blastit rattlin frae aw the craws fleein aff their perches. Ah lookit up and then doon and ah saw him – a man wi the deil’s murderous glint in his een, an awfy badness in his hairt. Frae that point ah kent ah wis feenisht. Ah heard anither unco bang and ah fell! The warm bluid oozed oot frae ma hurdies ontae the weet gress: the bankin wis scarred wi ma daith.
No lang efter, anither man cam alang but his face wis filled wi dowf shock when his een met mine. They lookit juist lik ma wife’s een – ma bonnie lassie. This man, he stairted mummlin that the hunter hadnae juist destroyed ma life. He had shattert ma faimily’s as weel. Ah’d been killed by no juist ony man, but killed by a man wi the hairt o the verra deil himsel. The man watchin me cursed that hunter and wishit the ruffian ne’er tae hae ony pleisure again…
Ah hae nae mair strength. Ah cannae say fareweel tae ma faimily. Ah maun juist finn a wee place o rest til the derkness cams. Ah ken ah’ll ne’er see a bonnie pink sky again or gang sportin ower the bonnie braes. Nae mair….
Molly Burns, P7, St Boswell’s Primary, Scottish Borders
Second runner up
Meg
Da streen I lost me tail. Lat me tell de whit happened. Tam wis in da inn gettin fou. He wis drinkin nappy and whisky. He wis haein an aafil lot o beer. He wis bein gavelous and traan. I wis waatchin aa dis fae furt. I wisna aafil blyde! Joost afore Tam and me wir aboot ta leave an aald wife cam up tae Tam and spoed aboot wir gaet hom.
Dan we left da inn and started wir vaege hom. It wis a braaly ill nicht. It wis blashy and da wind wis oobin. We geed across da rigs. It wis aa guttery and I wis eltit aa ower wi gutter. Dan Tam and me passed da aald vod Kirk Alloway. Dere wis witches and aa sorts o tings rantin. Dir wis a devil near da window playin da bagpipes. Dey were gaen faster and faster, dan suddenly Tam shouted oot, “Weel done, Cutty Sark!” Dan it wis aa mirk. Suddenly da witches and warlocks ran efter wis. Dey were gaen as fast as dey could go. Da witches couldna go oer da water. Dan whan Tam and me were joost aboot ta reach da idder edge dan wan o da witches jamp, and insteid o gettin Tam, dey gripped me tail and yarked it aff.
Hannah Wright, P6, Sound Primary, Shetland
Writing in the Scots Language for P6 – S2
Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns was a very skilful writer. He could look at a person or a creature and write down exactly what that character was thinking and feeling.
P6-S2 Burns' Voices Competition Pack (152kb pdf download)
| Bringing Burns tae Life S3-S6 |
First prize: Jenna Couston, S6, John Ogilvie High, South Lanarkshire for Robert Burns and God
Second prize: Meghan Kelly, S6, John Ogilvie High, South Lanarkshire for Robert Burns and William Wallace
Third prize: Greer Rankin, S6, Graeme High, Falkirk for Willie and Lizzie
Commendations
Jordan Mulligan, S6, Graeme High for Robert’s Revelation Christine Park S6, Graeme High for Wooer and Rosy Laura McGrail S6, John Ogilvie High for Robert Burns and Dylan Thomas Stephanie Doherty S6, John Ogilvie, for Robert Burns and the Tsar David McFall S6, John Ogilvie, for Robert Burns and Barack Obama Darren Martin S6, John Ogilvie for Robert Burns and Oor Wullie.
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A Guid Day Oot at Glesga University
The Itchy Coo/CRBS Prize Giving event took place on Friday 16th January in the Kelvin Gallery at Glasgow University. We were delighted tae weelcome pupils fae Hamilton, East Kilbride, Dumfries, Girvan, the Borders, North Ayrshire, Falkirk, Midlothian, Edinburgh and Fife. Pupils even came fae as far awa as Aberdeenshire, Wick and Shetland. We are awfie grateful tae aw the parents, grandparents and teachers who brought their pupils and weans tae Glesga for the event. Oor judges, and Liz Lochhead, Andrew Wolffe, Janice Forsyth were jist brilliant, haundin oot the prizes, readin poems, signin books, gettin their photie taen and congratulatin the young makars and artists on their braw work.
Hannah Wright and Molly Burns read oot their ain Burns’ Voices stories beautifully and Mr Eddie Morrison, Heid Teacher at John Ogilvie HS, and Graham Wylie in S4 gied a smashin rendition o the Scots playscript by Bringing Burns tae Life winner, Jenna Couston. Itchy Coo’s hertfelt thanks go tae awbody for makkin the event sic a muckle success, especially tae the Centre for Robert Burns Studies, and of course, tae Robert Burns himsel.
Feedback
Thanks for all your entries. You can read what pupils and teachers thought of our drawing competitions here.
