Competitions & challenges
Federation and National Competitions and Results are featured here to challenge and delight. "It's not the winning, it's the taking part!"
Why do we say "it's not the winning but the taking part that counts"?
It's a phrase coined by the founder of the Olympics, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who said "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well." (source)
It's a phrase coined by the founder of the Olympics, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who said "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well." (source)
Create a Royal Birthday Card!
Are you interested in creating a birthday card for the Queen this year? An original piece of work can be submitted to the NFWI collection address by 31st March. Full details of the what, when, and how are in our attached .pdf document. Good luck!
| royal-greeting-card-guidelines-1.pdf |
101 words for 101 years
Following on from the 2020 short story writing competition, we give you 101 Words for 101 Years!
It's a (very) short story writing competition!
Your challenge is to write a piece of ‘Flash’ fiction. Tell us a story, beginning, "What if ...", in no more than 101 words.
Make every word count and think of ways to build in an element of discovery and surprise.
Closing date Friday 23rd April 2021.
Send in your entries by email to: 2018LandL@gmail.com Please use “101 words” as the Subject header
The winner will be announced at the Annual Meeting on Wednesday 26th May, 2021.
It's a (very) short story writing competition!
Your challenge is to write a piece of ‘Flash’ fiction. Tell us a story, beginning, "What if ...", in no more than 101 words.
Make every word count and think of ways to build in an element of discovery and surprise.
Closing date Friday 23rd April 2021.
Send in your entries by email to: 2018LandL@gmail.com Please use “101 words” as the Subject header
The winner will be announced at the Annual Meeting on Wednesday 26th May, 2021.
The Elizabeth Bell Challenge 2021-22
To celebrate and showcase our inspiring members and the strength shown by WIs to thrive and continue, you are invited to take part in the Elizabeth Bell Challenge 2021-2022.
Running from January – December 2021, WIs are invited to compose a record demonstrating how their members have worked together to engage and support one another throughout the year; offering opportunities that have united their members, as well as successfully marketing the WI to increase their membership.
All members of the WI are encouraged to take part and contribute; from organising activities, photography, managing and writing the record(s), to designing and formatting the final entry. We want WIs to work together as a team and create a piece of work which proudly demonstrates the up’s and down’s of a year in the WI, as well a recognising the inspirational achievement made by all members that will go towards safeguarding another 100 years of the WI.
For full details of the Elizabeth Bell 2021 Schedule please click on the .pdf link below.
Running from January – December 2021, WIs are invited to compose a record demonstrating how their members have worked together to engage and support one another throughout the year; offering opportunities that have united their members, as well as successfully marketing the WI to increase their membership.
All members of the WI are encouraged to take part and contribute; from organising activities, photography, managing and writing the record(s), to designing and formatting the final entry. We want WIs to work together as a team and create a piece of work which proudly demonstrates the up’s and down’s of a year in the WI, as well a recognising the inspirational achievement made by all members that will go towards safeguarding another 100 years of the WI.
For full details of the Elizabeth Bell 2021 Schedule please click on the .pdf link below.
- BFWI WIs must send their entry to bfwicreativecrafts@gmail.com in the first instance. The closing date will be midnight on 31st December 2021.
- A representative from the winning WI will be presented with the Elizabeth Bell trophy at the Annual Meeting.
- The winning entry, runners up plus a selection of chosen entries will be retained by the NFWI for display purposes until December 2022. The NFWI reserves the right to use images of these entries on WI social media channels, My WI and in WI Life. Photographs will be acknowledged to the WI.
- Individual Entry Forms must be completed and submitted with the chosen entries to bfwicreativecrafts@gmail.com. Late entries cannot be accepted. Please see the entry form and schedule below.
- Please note that entries will be judged in the first instance at federation level and up to three entries from each federation can go forward to the national competition.
- No correspondence will be entered into after the competition.
|
| ||||
Lady Denman Cup 2020
‘What I heard on the Bus...’
Our County round results are in!
1st Lindsay MacGregor, Marlow Common WI
2nd Valerie Alsford, Winslow WI
3rd Deborah Sanders, Beaconsfield WI
Congratulations to our top three winners;
Using no more than 500 words, WI members were invited to submit a piece of writing, either comical, serious, fact or fiction, based on a conversation they have overheard, or imagined they had heard, on the bus.
The NFWI received 146 entries from 59 federations and the top award was awarded to Christine Greaves of Shropshire Federation - read her winning entry | You can also listen to Christine reading her winning story: click here (log in required). Christine will be awarded the Lady Denman Cup by NFWI
Our County round results are in!
1st Lindsay MacGregor, Marlow Common WI
2nd Valerie Alsford, Winslow WI
3rd Deborah Sanders, Beaconsfield WI
Congratulations to our top three winners;
Using no more than 500 words, WI members were invited to submit a piece of writing, either comical, serious, fact or fiction, based on a conversation they have overheard, or imagined they had heard, on the bus.
The NFWI received 146 entries from 59 federations and the top award was awarded to Christine Greaves of Shropshire Federation - read her winning entry | You can also listen to Christine reading her winning story: click here (log in required). Christine will be awarded the Lady Denman Cup by NFWI
100 miles more
WIs and individuals that completed the 100 Miles challenge will be awarded certificates at the 2021 Annual Council Meeting.
PLUS! Our challenge to walk 100 miles for 100 years has been so successful that we have decided to carry it on for the year 1 November 2020 -31 October 2021. It has a new name, '100 Miles More' but the rules are the same. To help you we have located over 25 appealing walks all over the county. We have chosen walks with an average length of about 5 miles (you don't have to adhere to this distance). You could choose to do the same walk 20 times, do a selection of those most accessible to you, or try to ‘collect the set’ and tour the county over the course of the year.
If you already take part in 'Simply Walks' or any other regular walking group, please feel free to count these outings towards your total. You may even prefer to come up with your own walking routes and log those –it’s really up to you! Organise a group or just go in ones and twos –all we ask is that you log your walks on the enrolment sheet and send completed sheets back to the Federation Office by 31 October 2021. You may also like to take a photo or selfie at start, midpoint and finish to record your achievements. You could even create a digital story! Let us know how you get on. We would love to hear of any updates on our selected walk routes or suggestions you have for additional ones.
Click here for the Challenge FAQs
PLUS! Our challenge to walk 100 miles for 100 years has been so successful that we have decided to carry it on for the year 1 November 2020 -31 October 2021. It has a new name, '100 Miles More' but the rules are the same. To help you we have located over 25 appealing walks all over the county. We have chosen walks with an average length of about 5 miles (you don't have to adhere to this distance). You could choose to do the same walk 20 times, do a selection of those most accessible to you, or try to ‘collect the set’ and tour the county over the course of the year.
If you already take part in 'Simply Walks' or any other regular walking group, please feel free to count these outings towards your total. You may even prefer to come up with your own walking routes and log those –it’s really up to you! Organise a group or just go in ones and twos –all we ask is that you log your walks on the enrolment sheet and send completed sheets back to the Federation Office by 31 October 2021. You may also like to take a photo or selfie at start, midpoint and finish to record your achievements. You could even create a digital story! Let us know how you get on. We would love to hear of any updates on our selected walk routes or suggestions you have for additional ones.
Click here for the Challenge FAQs
2020-2021 Silver Cup Challenge
"Jeans Reinvented" is the title of the 2020/21 challenge. Upcycle an unwanted pair of jeans or recycle some denim fabric. Interfacing, stuffing, and a limited amount of additional fabric can be used, and embellishment is encouraged. If you are able, please attach a photograph of the original pair of jeans.
Max size of finished item: 30cmx30cm (12"x12").
Deadline now 26th May 2021, our ACM, when entries will be judged.
Email: bfwicreativecrafts@gmail.com for full details
Max size of finished item: 30cmx30cm (12"x12").
Deadline now 26th May 2021, our ACM, when entries will be judged.
Email: bfwicreativecrafts@gmail.com for full details
BFWI 2020 Virtual Show
With Bucks County Show cancelled this year we thought it would be fun to hold a VIRTUAL SHOW!
THE WINNING ENTRIES (1st, 2nd, 3rd places) are featured on our Gallery page, click through here:
https://www.bucksfwi.org.uk/gallery.html
We had 6 classes to enter:
1. Floral Art – Vase of garden or wild flowers “To Brighten Your Day”
NFWI Judge Lorraine Purcell
2. Cookery – 6 decorated cupcakes or biscuits “For My Best Friend”
NFWI Judge Jill Arthur
3. Craft – A Greetings Card “Just to Say Hello”
NFWI Judge Gill Thomas
4. Photography – My Lockdown "A View From My Window”
Mr Alan Green
5. Vegetables – Wonky veg
NFWI Judge Hazel Loftus
6. Photo of your Pet –“What Would I Have Done Without You”?
Mrs Debbie Smith
THE WINNING ENTRIES (1st, 2nd, 3rd places) are featured on our Gallery page, click through here:
https://www.bucksfwi.org.uk/gallery.html
We had 6 classes to enter:
1. Floral Art – Vase of garden or wild flowers “To Brighten Your Day”
NFWI Judge Lorraine Purcell
2. Cookery – 6 decorated cupcakes or biscuits “For My Best Friend”
NFWI Judge Jill Arthur
3. Craft – A Greetings Card “Just to Say Hello”
NFWI Judge Gill Thomas
4. Photography – My Lockdown "A View From My Window”
Mr Alan Green
5. Vegetables – Wonky veg
NFWI Judge Hazel Loftus
6. Photo of your Pet –“What Would I Have Done Without You”?
Mrs Debbie Smith
AND THE WINNER IS........
100 words for 100 years: a (very) short story competition
Thanks to all who took up the challenge to write a piece of "flash fiction" using no more than 100 words!
Judged to be the best of the entries was "Dinner Party Dwarves" written by Lesley Bashaarat (Marlow Common). Second place was "Times Change" by Patricia lovell (Wendover Evening) and Third place was "Father Aiden's Celebrations" by Christine Darley (Radnage). Congratulations to you all!
Prize - As well as a trophy, the winner plus guest enjoyed "WhattaLife!" Centenary Celebration Lunch held on 24th January 2020.
Judged to be the best of the entries was "Dinner Party Dwarves" written by Lesley Bashaarat (Marlow Common). Second place was "Times Change" by Patricia lovell (Wendover Evening) and Third place was "Father Aiden's Celebrations" by Christine Darley (Radnage). Congratulations to you all!
Prize - As well as a trophy, the winner plus guest enjoyed "WhattaLife!" Centenary Celebration Lunch held on 24th January 2020.