For the John McQueen Memorial Trophy.

The 2008 Judge of the 1098 entries submitted, was Mr Hugh Bryden of Dumfries.

Passages to be transcribed in 2008 were:

1. My Name.....                                            Primary 1 & 2.

2. Ye Cannae Shove Yer Granny Aff a Bus.      Primary 3 & 4.

3. The Sair Finger.                                       Primary 5, 6 & 7.

4. The Authentic History of the Kilt.                First Year to Sixth Year.

The competition was as usual, open to All Primary and Secondary pupils within the Burgh of Dumfries and the passages had to be be transcribed within an allocated time. 

Awards 

The Overall Winner for 2008, who receives the John McQueen Memorial Trophy is Emily Mackenzie, a primary 5 pupil from St Michael`s Primary School.

2nd Overall Silver Medal winner in 2008 is Elia Davidson, a primary 3 pupil from St Andrew`s RC Primary School.

3rd Overall Bronze Medal winner in 2008 is Mhairi Hunt, a primary 2 pupil from St Michael`s Primary School.

Individual Year Medals and Highly Commended Merit Certificates for all classes from Primary One to Sixth Year. The awards will be presented at the relevant schools by the 2008 Queen of the South, Cornet and Cornets Lass, during their visits to Primary Schools throughout Guid Nychburris week 2008.

2008 Gold Medal Winners: Primary 1, Kaitlin Ritchie, St Michael`s Primary School. Primary 2, Mhairi Hunt, St Michael`s Primary. Primary 3, Elia Davidson, St Michael`s Primary. Primary 4, Sophie Niven, St Michael`s Primary. Primary 5, Emily Mackenzie, St Michael`s Primary. Primary 6, Demie Marie Richardson, Collin Primary. Primary 7, Georgina Moorhead, St Michael`s Primary. First Year Secondary, Renee Ho, Dumfries Academy.   

Highly Commended Cerificates awarded to:

Primary One: Robin Burns, St Andrew`s RC Primary, Hannah Ali, St Andrew`s RC Primary, Anania Sanchana, St Andrew`s RC Primary, Abbi Uphill, St Andrew`s RC Primary, Chloe Kennedy, St Michael`s Primary.  

Primary Two: Erin O`Neill, Loreburn Primary, Anya Watt, Loreburn Primary, Aleksei Wishart, Loreburn Primary, Dugald MacGregor, St Michael`s Primary, Rachel Graham, St Michael`s Primary.

Primary Three: Abbie Browning, Georgetown Primary, Jessica Wilson, Locharbriggs Primary, Lois Pearson, Locharbriggs Primary, Chelsie Nash, Locharbriggs Primary, Morven Carson, St Ninian`s Primary.  

Primary Four: Lucy Miller, St Andrew`s RC Primary, Sorn Neill, St Michael`s Primary, Iona Hammond, St Michael`s Primary, Lewis Green, St Michael`s Primary, Caitlin Delaney, St Ninian`s Primary.  

Primary Five: Conor Tosh, Georgetown Primary, Greg Rice, Georgetown Primary, Jasmine McMichael, Locharbriggs Primary, Baris Tahtali, Locharbriggs Primary, Iga Blaszczyk, Locharbriggs Primary, Sara Carson, St Michael`s Primary.

Primary Six: Taylor Baxter, Cargenbridge Primary, Erin Biggar, Locharbriggs Primary, Steven Thiele, Locharbriggs Primary, Kaillie Krause, Locharbriggs Primary, Rheanna Ferguson, St Michaels Primary, Sara Elbashir, St Michael`s Primary. 

Primary Seven: Ellie Louise Neill, Locharbriggs Primary, Kimberly Baird, Locharbriggs Primary, Ellie Johnstone, Locharbriggs Primary, Eilidh Milligan, Loreburn Primary, Justin Macleod, St Michael`s Primary, Rebecca Thomas, St Michael`s Primary. 

Secondary First Year: Demi Armstrong, Dumfries Academy. 

The organisers have stated that the standard of hand writing in 2008 was excellent. Mr Hugh Bryden of Dumfries thoroughly enjoyed judging the competition for 2008 and said "It took me back to my days as a school teacher, marking the homework"!.

The Guid Nychburris Festival Entertainments Committee wishes to thank Mr Bryden for the many hours he took from his busy schedule to judge the competition and also to the entrants and teachers, woithout whom we would not have such a successful competition.