A DASH to the postbox during Typhoon Kent has paid off for librarian Elizabeth Nash. Her entry has won first prize in the South China Morning Post short story competition. Ms Nash, 50, from Hong Kong University, won two return British Airways tickets to London - perfect timing for her parents' wedding anniversary. Her story on the theme of A Final Appeal described a father feuding with his children over a troublesome puppy, and how the situation was resolved. Ms Nash was amazed her entry pipped 128 others to the post, as she assumed her last-minute dash to get it posted before the August deadline was in vain. 'It was the week of Typhoon Kent, I had just written the story at the weekend, I didn't think it had even arrived at the Post - I wasn't at all sure it was going to get there.' It is not the first time she has won a literary competition, but the prize - two return air tickets to London on British Airways and an S.T. Dupont Classic Line fountain pen - is more glamorous. 'This is my first big prize. The other one was a crate of Hungarian red wine. I could have used it as paint stripper,' she said. Aspiring author Lynda Ng Wai-ying chose a topical issue - kidney transplants - for her winning entry in the junior section. The 14-year-old student at the German-Swiss International School is an avid writer and described a sister's bid to get a kidney for her dying brother from a family whose son had just died. The competition was organised and judged jointly by RTHK and the South China Morning Post. A high quality of writing was noted by deciding judge, Editor of the Post Jonathan Fenby, who said he was overwhelmed by the pool of literary talent in the territory. Second prize of an S.T. Dupont Montparnasse Line Ball Point Pen in the senior section went to 24-year-old Sarah King of Lamma Island. Third was Joan Hobson, 66, of Pokfulam, winning an S.T. Dupont Fidelo Line Ball Point Pen. Consolation prizes of $500 book coupons from SCMP Family bookshops will be sent to Randall Letterman, Nadine Sarreal, Haroon Khan, Henry Combe and Jane Camens. In the junior section, runner-up was 17-year-old Elizabeth Hutton of Repulse Bay, followed by Vincent Ramos, 16, of Shek O. Katherine Firth, Sarah McGregor, Katie Jackson, Tabatha Soltay and Otto Choi won consolation prizes.
