Marie Hill Youth Writing Contest open for entries


 Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - Jamie Rucker

 

From now until August 10, 2007, the USTA is accepting entries for the 2007 Marie Hill Youth Writing Award contest, with cash prizes totaling $1,250.

The contest, created by and named for harness racing author Marie Hill, is open to youth ages 16 or younger.  There are two age categories, ages 12 and under and ages 13 – 16.  Entries can be in the form of short stories, articles or essays about Standardbred horses and/or harness racing.  The subject may be horses, people, historical figures and/or issues affecting our sport.  Entries can be either fiction or non-fiction. The winning entries will be published in Youth Beats magazine in 2007.

Five hundred dollars goes to the winning author in the 13-16 age category, and $250 goes to the winning author of the 12 and under category.  Second-place winning authors will each receive $100.  Third-place authors will receive $75 each.  Three honorable mentions in each category will receive $25.  All entrants will receive a certificate of participation and a goody bag of horse books and videos to encourage them to keep reading and writing about horses.

The contest is sponsored by the U.S. Trotting Association, Marie Hill and Christopher and Virginia Schick, Standardbred owners from California.  Additionally, the goody bags are sponsored by the Hambletonian Society, Farlink Satellite Services, and the NJ Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association. 

Marie Hill, a native of New Brunswick, Canada, is the author of books on Adios, Single G., Delvin Miller and Joe O’Brien.  Hill created the award to encourage young people to write about her beloved sport and its greatest heroes.

The maximum length of entries is 1000 words.  One entry per person will be accepted.  The subject of each entry must be harness racing and/or Standardbred horses.  The entry must be the original, unpublished work of the author, who must be 16 years of age or younger on August 10, 2007.  All contestants must be members of the USTA, and USTA Youth membership is free! 

Each entry must be accompanied by an official entry form or cover page indicating entrant’s name, address, phone number, date of birth, email address and signature for statement of honest work.  Online entries may be accepted by going to http://www.ustrotting.com/sep/mhywa/form.cfm.

Entries will be judged on content, accuracy of harness racing references and spelling and grammar.

Judging will be handled by the USTA.  Winners will be chosen on a cumulative score of the three judges.  In case of a tie, the Executive Editor of Hoof Beats will be the tiebreaker.

For questions, more information or a printable entry form, please contact USTA toll free at 1-877-800-8782, ext. 3260 or email jamie.rucker@ustrotting.com.  Mailed entries may be submitted to: USTA, c/o MHYWA, 750 Michigan Avenue, Columbus OH 43215.

Entries are due by August 10, 2007.

Source: USTA Web site (03-06-07)