City schoolgirl wins national poetry prize

AN Edinburgh schoolgirl has beat off competition from thousands of entrants to take top place in a national poetry competition.

Kirsty Shinton, 15, from the Rudolf Steiner School, was selected as best overall poet in the Away With Words Scottish Verses competition, while fellow classmate Helen Keller was one of four runners-up.

Their poems have been published in a book showcasing the talents of young poets.

Alistair Pugh, Kirsty's English teacher, said: "We decided to enter the Away With Words competition as a class last year to support our studies into poetry and its construction.

"The quality of the poetry produced by all the pupils who were published was incredible so we were particularly impressed when we heard that Kirsty and Helen had been selected by the judging panel to receive particular accolades.

"Both have worked enormously hard and we hope that this is the first of many books that will feature their work in the future."

Kirsty added: "I was very surprised to hear I'd won first prize in the Scottish competition."