National Flash Fiction Youth Competition

The annual National Flash Fiction Youth Competition, launched in 2014, is organized by the International Flash Fiction Association at the University of Chester.

The National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2025 – Open for Entries Until 7 February 2025

The National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2025 is open for entries.

Stories must be no more than 360 words (including the title) and be by current Years 11, 12 & 13 students, or Higher/Advanced Higher students, aged 15–19 and studying in the UK.

Entry is free. There is no limit to how many stories can be submitted by a school/college, but only one story per student may be entered.

Click here for further guidelines.

Judges:

Drs Peter Blair and Ashley Chantler, directors of the International Flash Fiction Association and tutors on the University of Chester’s BA (Hons) Creative Writing.

Nuala O’Connor, who lives in Galway, Ireland. Her sixth novel, Seaborne, about Irish-born pirate Anne Bonny, was published in 2024 by New Island. Her novel Nora (2021), about Nora Barnacle and James Joyce, was a Top 10 historical novel in the New York Times. She won Irish Short Story of the Year at the 2022 Irish Book Awards and is editor at flash-fiction magazine Splonk.

Prizes:

  • 1st Prize: £100
  • 2nd Prize: £75
  • 3rd Prize: £50

The prizes will be paid in National Book Tokens. The three winning stories will be published on this website. Submission to the competition grants Flash: The International Short-Short Story Press permission to publish the stories elsewhere, for example, in a printed anthology. Copyright remains with the author.

The decision of the judges is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Deadline for entries: 7 February 2025.

The Results of The National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2024

First prize: ‘Birdsong’ by Kitty Clements (Wirral Grammar School for Girls). The prize was £100 of National Book Tokens and publication on this website.

Second prize: ‘No Entry’ by James Gannicott (Ellesmere College, Shropshire). The prize was £75 of National Book Tokens and publication on this website.

Third prize: ‘Pavement Princess’ by Ammaarah Vohra (Redmaids’ High School, Bristol). The prize was £50 of National Book Tokens and publication on this website.

The Results of The National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2023

First prize:Miss Matched’ by Lyra Barber (Boroughmuir High School, Edinburgh). The prize was £100 of National Book Tokens and publication on this website.

Second prize:The Things He Left Behind’ by Mia Scattergood (Sir John Deane’s Sixth Form College, Northwich). The prize was £75 of National Book Tokens and publication on this website.

Third prize:Red Dirt Girl’ by Alexander Hewson (Bilborough Sixth Form College, Nottingham). The prize was £50 of National Book Tokens and publication on this website.

The following stories were Very Highly Commended:

  • ‘Connie Is Famous Now’ by Lola Chant (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • ‘The Apple Tree’ by Ashton Read (Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College).
  • ‘The Origin of Our Stars’ by Farah Bajramović (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • ‘Dysmorphic’ by Amelia Robinson (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • ‘Fifty-Four Days’ by Shania Kemble (New College, Swindon).
  • ‘Letters of the Night’ by Loki Wilson (Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College).
  • ‘A Walk in the Snow (Alone)’ by Lily Harrison (Wirral Grammar School For Girls, Bebington).

The following stories were Highly Commended:

  • ‘It Is the End of the World. I Have Not Lived a Life Yet’ by Sophia Amaro (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • ‘Floating’ by Maia Bonnar (Boroughmuir High School, Edinburgh).
  • ‘The Jam Sandwich’ by Hannah Johanson (Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College).
  • ‘Extinction’ by Leo Prince Brown (Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College).
  • ‘Dancing’ by Jack Arrowsmith (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • ‘I(’)mperfect’ by Lukasz Bacewicz (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • ‘Faded Reflection’ by Łukasz Gałązką (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • ‘Aftermath’ by Jacob Hansen (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • ‘The Lonely Woodsman’ by Julius Hermens (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • ‘Lost in the Forest’ by Irfan Mohammad (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • ‘Insomnia, Insanity, Iteration’ by Maia Noonan (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • ‘Don’t Go in the Dark Forest Alone at Night’ by Bennet Schumann (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • ‘Wilful Ignorance’ by Grace Brown (Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College).
  • ‘Her’ by Poppy Hunt (Wirral Grammar School For Girls, Bebington).

The judges were the author Francesca Haig and the editors of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine, Peter Blair and Ashley Chantler.

Francesca Haig profile photo, English Department National Flash Competition.

The Results of The National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2022

First prize: ‘The Affliction’ by Cecilia Kennard (Redmaids’ High School, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol). The prize was £100 of National Book Tokens and publication on this website. Click here to read the story.

Second prize: ‘Through the Gate’ by Tabitha Heaton (Brighton, Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College). The prize was £75 of National Book Tokens and publication on this website. Click here to read the story.

Third prize: ‘10:24’ by Louise Lord (Redmaids’ High School, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol). The prize was £50 of National Book Tokens and publication on this website. Click here to read the story.

The following stories were Very Highly Commended:

  • ‘The New “Her”’ by Iris Grigoras (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • ‘The Gunslinger’ by Loki Wilson (Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College).
  • ‘La Mia Zona Di Comfort’ by Krystyn Anthony (Strathearn School, Belfast).

The following stories were Highly Commended:

  • 'Christmas' by Alana Ford (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • 'Mirror, Mirror on the Wall' (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • ​​​​ 'Love-Lost' by Holly Jewitt Maurice (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • 'Tree of Life' by Gracie Pemberton  (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • 'Secluded From Society' by Matthew Harris (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • '8th July' by Hastal Ort (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • 'Bad Things Happen' by Athina Maria Volar Coman (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • 'To Dad...Sorry' by George Chapman (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'The Racer' by Robin Denyer (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Abuse' by Harrison Finch (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Legacy' by Freddie Jennings (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'The End' by Freya Starkey (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Scars' by Connor Finn (Nottingham College).
  • 'Requiescat in Pace' by Calvin Horsburgh (Pensby High School, Wirral).
  • 'My Only Friend' by Siena Gathercole (The Sixth Form College, Colchester).
  • 'Hiraeth' by Emma Hornsby (The Sixth Form College, Colchester).
  • 'It Haunts Me' by Nilofar Abadi (Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College).
  • 'The Oak and The Elm' by Rachel Golden (Strathearn School, Belfast).
  • 'Visions of the Past' by Arya Devani (The Tiffin Girls' School, London).
  • Retrouvailles' by Zoha Khan (The Tiffin Girls' School, London).​​​​

The judges were the author Michael Loveday and the editors of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine.

The Results of The National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2021

First prize: ‘Company’ by Caitlin Rothery (Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College). The prize was £100 of National Book Tokens and publication on this website and in the April issue of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine.

Second prize: ‘Organic Salesman’ by Harry Kitchener (Boroughmuir High School, Edinburgh). The prize was £75 of National Book Tokens and publication on this website.

Third prize: ‘A Wedding. An Accident. A Funeral’ by Grace Howatson (Bilborough College, Nottingham). The prize was £50 of National Book Tokens and publication on this website.

The following stories were Very Highly Commended:

  • ‘The Menu’ by Ted Smethurst (Abingdon School).
  • ‘The Shadows’ by Holly Evans (Birkenhead Sixth Form College).
  • ‘The Mess We’re In’ by Tabitha Leonard (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • ‘A Pilgrimage’ by Millie Mangham (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • ‘Soup’ by Jasmine Bolton (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • ‘Twisted Destiny’ by Rachel Lipson (Strathearn School, Belfast).
  • ‘Headwind Falls’ by Carmen Gessell (The Tiffin Girls’ School, Kingston upon Thames).

The following stories were Highly Commended:

  • 'Our Fairies' by Kirsty Rose Went (Beaconsfield High School, Beaconsfield).
  • 'It'll Be OK' by Megan Brierley (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • 'Footprints' by Isla Joesbury (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • 'Moving' by Rianna Richardson (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • 'The Full Moon' by Katie Borland (Boroughmuir High School, Edinburgh).
  • 'The Spaceship to Nowhere Took Off with a Bang' by Mathilda Chapman (Boroughmuir High School, Edinburgh).
  • 'It's Too Early Elaine!' by Sofia Acevedo (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • 'Fallen' by Alex Bain (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • 'The Key' by Matthew Bland (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • 'The Erebus of Greenfield Lane' by Douglas Carden (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • 'Hölleb' by Christopher Davis (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • 'The 4:11' by Rachael Hemingway-Deaney (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • 'Him' by George Joynson (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • '25056' by Carmen Kilgannon (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • 'Blame' by Francesca Lepone (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • 'In Too Deep' by Huw Lloyd (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • 'Hibernation' by Lucy Stevens (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • 'Ground Unsanctified' by Anastasia Gale (New College, Swindon).
  • 'As Quick as It Began' by Teva Gimpel-Hertz (New College, Swindon).
  • 'Twelve' by Sabba Beekawoo (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Blind' by Eleanor Couvreur (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Red' by Johnny Friel (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'The Door' by Abbie Khadaroo (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Regret' by Luca Morris (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'End of the Line' by William Parker (The Norton Knatcbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Alzheimer's' by Benita Perry (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Mute' by Courtney Prior (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Forget-me-not' by Inaya Begum (Oaklands School, London).
  • 'The Humble Profiterole' by Georgia Setchell (Sigma Sixth, Colchester).
  • 'Babies' by Hannah Smyth (St. Dominic's Grammar School for Girls, Belfast).
  • 'The Bear' by Rachel Golden (Strathearn School, Belfast).
  • 'The Goddess of Sorrow' by Jess Winton (Strathearn School, Belfast).
  • 'Catharsis' by Emily Brennan (Wirral Grammar School for Girls, Bebington).
  • 'Protagonist' by Hannah Wilson (Wirral Grammar School for Girls, Bebington).

The judges were the author Nod Ghosh and the editors of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine.

The Results of the National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2020

First prize: ‘Like Mother, Like Daughter’ by Monica Yell (Brighton and Hove Sixth Form College). The prize was £100 of National Book Tokens and publication on this website and in the April issue of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine.

Second prize: ‘Honouring the Dead’ by Izak Sher (The Sixth Form College, Colchester). The prize was £75 of National Book Tokens and publication on this website.

Third prize: ‘Thursday’ by Amber Coxill (Ellesmere College, Shropshire). The prize was £50 of National Book Tokens and publication on this website.

The following stories were Very Highly Commended:

  • 'Changing Currents' by Amy Brand (Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College).
  • 'Broken Home' by Daisy Coleman (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Ugly Vengeance' by Rachel Lipson (Strathearn School, Belfast).
  • 'The Tulips in Grandad's Garden' by Daisy Nash (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • 'The King of Nothing' by Naomi Savage (Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington).
  • 'Their Last Move' by Tom Tresadern (Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College).
  • 'End of the Line' by Imo Trill (Benenden School, Cranbrook).
  • 'The Airport Nightshift' by Iona Warne (Benenden School, Cranbrook)

The following stories were Highly Commended:

  • 'Hurricane' by Patrick Alderson (Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington).
  • 'The Forever Flame' by Jamie Brand (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Shopping' by Leo Buckle (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • 'The Pied Piper' by Arthur Cowie (Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College).
  • 'Memories' by Conor Dempsey (Chosen Hill School, Churchdown).
  • 'Motivation' by Keaton Fox (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Buried Alive' by Molly French (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Angel' by Chloe Gardner (Hillpark Secondary School, Glasgow).
  • 'Molehill' by Isobel Gundersen (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'The Games' by Alixandra Heasmer-Jones (Ellesmere College, Shropshire).
  • 'My Happiness' by Jade Holgate (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Coal Hearted' by Sara John (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Squatters' Rights' by Yana Khaling (The Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston upon Thames).
  • 'Space Bird' by Lucy Kilpatrick (Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington).
  • 'Dust Jacket' by Isobel Larkins (The Whitby High School, Ellesmere Port).
  • 'A Touch of Heartbreak' by Maheen Mehmood (Hitchin Girls' School)
  • 'The Secret' by Rachel Neilly (Strathearn School, Belfast).
  • 'Underwater' by Kathleen O'Connell (New College, Swindon).
  • 'I Could Stop If I Wanted To' by Isobel Paxton (St George's School for Girls, Edinburgh).
  • 'Keep Listening' by Jack Rand (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'People Watching' by Amy Ruddy (St. Dominic's Grammar School, Belfast).
  • 'Your Last Night' by Maggie Skitmore (Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College).
  • 'Death' by James Temple (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Illumination' by Jonas Treptau (Scarborough Sixth Form College).
  • 'Days Gone By' by Damien Trinh (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Her' by Kalea Wirz (Burford School).

The judges were the author Carrie Etter and the editors of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine.

The Results of the National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2019

First prize: ‘A Bump in the Road’ by Lucy McDougall (Wirral Grammar School for Girls). The prize was £100 of Waterstones vouchers and publication on this website and in the April issue of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine.

Second prize: ‘My Best Friend’ by Lauryn Galt (Ysgol y Grango, Wrexham). The prize was £75 of Waterstones vouchers and publication on this website. 

Third prize: ‘Behind the Camera’ by Sarah Gornall (Saint Wilfrid’s Church of England Academy, Blackburn). The prize was £50 of Waterstones vouchers and publication on this website.

The following stories were Very Highly Commended:

  • 'His Scarlet Shadow' by Francesca Bush (Brockenhurst College).
  • 'Flower Powder' by Sophie Chapman (Wirral Grammar School for Girls, Bebington).
  • 'Siblings' by Sam Glover (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • 'Dreams' by Tobias Green (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • 'Pat's Pancake House' by Indiana Malik (Bilborough College, Nottingham).

The following stories were Highly Commended:

  • 'Through the Window Pane' by Ben Barden (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Post-Partum' by Nicole Blythe (The Barclay Academy, Stevenage).
  • 'Release' by Molly Booth (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Melodies' by Jamie Brand (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Soup' by Katie Brown (Alsager School).
  • 'Highway to Hell' by Annie Chan (Cardiff Sixth Form College).
  • 'The Tale of a Typescript Named John Doe' by Claire Chan (Cardiff Sixth Form College).
  • 'My Sparkly Rocket' by Hannah Dickinson (Brockenhurst College).
  • 'American Reality' by Phoebe England (Bosworth Academy, Leicester).
  • 'The Revolution Has Not Been Televised' by Luis Fedrick (Brighton and Hove Sixth Form College).
  • 'Sacrifice for Victory' by Keaton Fox (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Unfading' by Claire Gee (Archway School, Stroud).
  • 'The List' by Emily Gilbert (The Barclay Academy, Stevenage).
  • 'The House' by Aaliyah Hilton (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • 'Three Past One in the Afternoon in an NHS Hospital' by Rebekah Jacob (The Manchester College).
  • 'A School of Sharks' by Hollie Jevons Saunders (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • 'Paradise' by Lauren Jones (Wirral Grammar School for Girls, Bebington).
  • 'An Old Friend' by Aaron Kearney (St. Anselm's College, Birkenhead).
  • 'Was This Regret?' by Juliet McConkey (Westcliff High School for Girls, Westcliff-on-Sea). 
  • 'Bittersweet' by Nicola Penny (Brockenhurst College).
  • 'Everything Will Be OK' by Ethan Pink (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'Last Shot' by Elizaveta Shulgina (Cardiff Sixth Form College).
  • 'Toxic Friend' by Isabella Thompson (Exeter College).
  • 'Morality' by Damien Trinh (The Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford).
  • 'The Creatures Within' by Emily Welsby (Brockenhurst College). 
  • 'When We Met' by Lily Williams (Monkwearmouth Academy, Sunderland).

The judges were the author Meg Pokrass and the editors of Flash.

The Results of The National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2018

First prize: ‘The Mermaid’s Purse’ by Lucie Stanfield (Winstanley College, Wigan). The prize was £100 of Waterstones vouchers and publication on this website and in the April issue of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine

Second prize: ‘Confession’ by Frankie Rufolo (Exeter College). The prize was £75 of Waterstones vouchers and publication on this website.

Third prize: ‘A Decaying Matter’ by Daniel Blurton (Bilborough College, Nottingham). The prize was £50 of Waterstones vouchers and publication on this website.

The following stories were Very Highly Commended:

  • ‘If I Ever Went to Paris’ by Gabriella J. Cook (Exeter College).
  • ‘Semi-Detached’ by Lilian James-Gets (Exeter College).

The following stories were Highly Commended:

  • 'Eve' by Cameron Allen (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • 'Six Days' by Samuel Barber (Exeter College).
  • 'Eternal' by Katie Campbell (Strathearn School, Belfast).
  • 'One-Way Ticket' by India Castro (The Barclay School, Stevenage).
  • 'The Doctor' by Zoe Glossop (Winstanley College, Wigan).
  • 'From the Street' by Harry Griffiths (Ellesmere College).
  • 'Household Name' by Alyx Hammacott (Exeter College).
  • 'Killing the Habit' by Sophie Hampson (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • 'Goodwill' by Rebecca Harrison (Redmaids' High School, Bristol).
  • 'Smoke Screen' by Bethany Hayes (Exeter College).
  • 'On the Rocks' by Shankavi Jegatheeswaran (The Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston-Upon-Thames).
  • 'Godspawn' by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson (The Godolphin and Latymer School, Hammersmith, London).
  • 'The Runaway' by Holly K. Kaufman-Hill (Exeter College).
  • 'The Mime Artist' by Noah Keate (Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge).
  • 'Shopping' by Sara Klusch (Godalming College).
  • 'Blue Flashing Lights' by Issy Lyons (Westcliffe High School for Girls, Southend-on-Sea).
  • 'Brittle Boned' by Josh Mayhew (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • 'The Porter' by Danielle Ross-Bouquet (Exeter College).
  • 'An Oak's Sorrow' by Lou Stone (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • 'Let the Bells Ring Out For Christmas' by Isabel Tyldesley (Winstanley College, Wigan).
  • 'Guilt' by Amrit Virdi (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • ''Valhalla Has Fallen' by Katy Ward (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • 'Winnie' by Nicole Webster (Bosworth Academy, Leicester).
  • 'Victims Before Adulthood' by Charlotte Williams (Exeter College).

The judges were the author David Swann and the editors of Flash.

The Results of the National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2017

First prize: ‘Flotsam’ by Elise Longden (Winstanley College, Billinge, Wigan). The prize was £100 of Waterstones vouchers and publication on this website and in the April issue of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine.

Second prize: ‘Perfectionist’ by Holly Smith (South Downs College, Waterlooville). The prize was £75 of Waterstones vouchers and publication on this website.

Third prize: ‘Fathomless’ by Ally Fowler (Notting Hill and Ealing High School, London). The prize was £50 of Waterstones vouchers and publication on this website. The following stories were Highly Commended:

  • ‘Closer’ by Jacob Alexander (Paston Sixth Form College, North Walsham).
  • ‘The Man on the Moon’ by Jacob Bradshaw (Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Bebington).
  • ‘Sacrifice’ by Olivia Bridge (Winstanley College, Billinge, Wigan).
  • ‘Brown Hair, Blue Eyes’ by Charlotte Chapman (Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge).
  • ‘The Monster’ by Eve Clarke (Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge).
  • ‘Sheila’ by Ruby Crook-English (The Thomas Hardye School, Dorchester).
  • ‘Signs of a Very Happy Couple’ by Ellen Kathryn Darbyshire (Winstanley College, Billinge, Wigan).
  • ‘English Rose’ by Minenhle Dlodlo (Winstanley College, Billinge, Wigan).
  • ‘Labyrinth’ by Emma Ferguson (Strathearn School, Belfast).
  • ‘All Our Faults’ by Sophie Land (Exeter College).
  • ‘Movie Night’ by Georgia O’Brien (Winstanley College, Billinge, Wigan).
  • ‘The Ferris Wheel’ by Maria Malinowski (Winstanley College, Billinge, Wigan).
  • ‘Forty Seconds’ by Jess Molyneux (Urmston Grammar Academy, Manchester).
  • ‘Ring’ by Fiona O’Hagan (St Ronan’s College, Craigavon).
  • ‘Home’ by Beth Robertson (Winstanley College, Billinge, Wigan).
  • ‘Not My Shell’ by Laura Russell (Winstanley College, Billinge, Wigan).
  • ‘Tea’ by Lucie Stanfield (Winstanley College, Billinge, Wigan).
  • ‘Hide’ by Rachael Tye (Oriel High School, Crawley).
  • ‘What I Will Never Tell You’ by Abby Walker (Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form, Darlington).
  • ‘The Little Soldier’ by Hollie Walls (Winstanley College, Billinge, Wigan).
  • ‘Can’t Live If Living is Without You’ by Jade Wilkinson (Winstanley College, Billinge, Wigan).
  • ‘Bilberries and Dogwood’ by Charlotte Williams (Exeter College).

The judges were the author and editor Tom Hazuka and the editors of Flash.

The Results of the National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2016

First prize: ‘Silver Linings’ by Charlotte Rhodes (Winstanley College, Wigan). The prize was £100 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website and in the April issue of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine.

Second prize: ‘Cut’ by Tuesday Dolan (Bryanston School, Blandford Forum). The prize was £75 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website. 

Third prize: ‘Vacant’ by Bridget May Jackson (Bishop Heber High School, Malpas). The prize was £50 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website.

The following stories were Highly Commended:

  • ‘Another Place’ by Lottie Brignall (Knights Templar School, Baldock).
  • ‘Black Trap’ by Rachel Casson (St Vincent College, Gosport).
  • ‘Danse Macabre’ by Deborah Coverley (Westcliff High School for Girls, Westcliff-on-Sea).
  • ‘Lavender’ by Molly Davidson (The Catholic High School, Chester).
  • ‘Cold’ by Kimberley Fearnhead (Winstanley College, Wigan).
  • ‘Dining with Death’ by Maddison Garnett (Kenilworth School and Sixth Form).
  • ‘Caterpillar’ by Molly Garnett (Bishop Heber High School, Malpas).
  • ‘Robert Green’ by Thomas Hall (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • ‘The Philosophies of a Maneki Neko Observing the Poor Man’ by Hilla Hamidi (Paddington Academy, London).
  • ‘T*’ by Alice Hyde (Ackworth School, Pontefract).
  • ‘Nobody Builds Walls Better Than Me’ by Ben Ive (St Vincent College, Gosport).
  • ‘Dust Under the Bed’ by Aileen Kearney (Upton Hall School FCJ, Wirral).
  • ‘An Unknown Platinum’ by Stephanie Martin (Kesgrave High School, Ipswich).
  • ‘The Quakening’ by Ruari McKenzie (Exeter College, Exeter).
  • ‘From Someone Who Will Soon No Longer Be’ by Afrika Navarro-Calleja (Paddington Academy, London).
  • ‘Nightmares’ by Charlotte Rushton (St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford).
  • ‘Missing’ by Katarzyna Sekulska (Winstanley College, Wigan).
  • ‘Adam’s Secret Life’ by Lucy Spicer (St Vincent College, Gosport).
  • ‘Isla’ by Olivia Stringer (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • ‘Gravity Gone’ by Jakub Suwala (The Catholic High School, Chester).

The judges were the author Holly Howitt and the editors of Flash.

The Results of the National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2015

First prize: ‘Hide and Seek’ by Helena Gurr (Wirral Grammar School for Girls). The prize was £100 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website and in the April 2015 issue of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine.

Second prize: ‘The Illness’ by Pascale Hall (Brighton College). The prize was £75 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website.

Third prize: ‘Coco Chanel’ by Catharine Settle (Wirral Grammar School for Girls). The prize was £50 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website.

The following stories were Highly Commended:

  • ‘Wonderland Asylum’ by Danni Evans (Northampton School for Girls).
  • ‘The Old Phone’ by Hannah Sayer (Winstanley College, Billinge, Wigan).

The judges were the author Vanessa Gebbie and the editors of Flash.

The Results of the National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2014

First prize: ‘Unborn’ by Seeun Choi (Cardiff Sixth Form College). The prize was £100 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website and in the April 2014 issue of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine.

Second prize: ‘What Makes You Want to Visit Again?’ by Esther Samson (Bilborough Sixth Form College, Nottingham). The prize was £75 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website. 

Third prize: ‘The Act of Giving Up’ by Dylan Butcher (Bilborough College, Nottingham). The prize was £50 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website.

The following stories were Highly Commended:

  • ‘The Perfect Concerto’ by Patrick Clarke (Chesterfield High School, Crosby, Liverpool).
  • ‘Dear; My Love’ by Emily Drummond (Bilborough Sixth Form College, Nottingham).
  • ‘It Wasn’t My Fault’ by Charley Hall (St Vincent College, Gosport).
  • ‘Right’ by Jake Hevness (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • ‘Two Artists’ by Beth Hurst (Winstanley College, Billinge, Wigan).
  • ‘The Road Trip’ by Ciara Lavelle (Bilborough Sixth Form College, Nottingham).
  • ‘The Shell’ by Molly Mcadam (Halesowen College).
  • ‘Remedy’ by Sophie McDonald (Wirral Grammar School for Girls, Bebington).
  • ‘Flowers’ by Abby Montgomery (Bilborough College, Nottingham).
  • ‘Commands’ by Jacob Sowter (Ackworth School, Pontefract).

The judges were the author David Gaffney and the editors of Flash.