Megan off to a racing start with writing

A teenager from the Black Country raced away with a top writing award.

Megan Woodward, aged 17, of Cradley Heath, is celebrating after triumphing in a creative writing competition with a horse racing theme.

The student, who attends King Edward VI College in Stourbridge, claimed a £500 prize for her essay titled Jockey Bread, about the pressures on a jockey's wife.

Her mum Belle Woodward said: "Megan loves writing and has done well in several competitions now but she was thrilled to win this one.

"She's learning to drive so the money will go towards a car once she hopefully passes her test. "I think she would love to be a writer but it doesn't always pay the bills!"

The competition was part of the Wills Writing Awards, which have been running for 19 years and reward the best young horse racing writers in the country.

Judges for the competition included legendary horse racing journalist Brough Scott.

A selection of winning articles will be published, in the next few weeks, in the Racing Post and The Irish Field.

The Under 26 winner will also have the opportunity of work experience at the Racing Post. To read Megan's story, visit www.willswritingawards.co.uk/meganwoodward.asp

Megan received her award at a presentation ceremony held at the world-famous Newmarket racecourse earlier this month.

Mr Scott said: "Judging the Martin Wills Awards is one of the highlights of my year. This time, once again, it shows the flame still burns."

Megan previously won through to the finals of a national competition run by organisers behind the long-running hit musical Wicked with a story about the hardships that racing hounds can suffer.