My 2026 Christmas Card Competition
Once again, it has been a real joy judging the entries to my Christmas card competition which will be delivered to homes across Mid Sussex. I received a staggering 401 entries this year.
Working with local artist, Kate Harries, I chose the winner, runners up and highly commended entries in the infant, juniors and secondary category.
After much deliberation, the category winners are:
Infants: Stanley, age 6, St Wilfrid’s C of E Primary
Juniors: Martha, age 7, Lindfield Primary Academy
Secondary: Albert, age 11, Oathall Community College
I then put these three entries to a public vote to decide which picture will be on the front of my card. I am delighted to announce that the overall winner is Martha with her beautiful collage of a wintery night.
Both Stanley’s joyful drawing of a snowman at both daytime and night time and Albert’s snowman in front of colourful houses festooned with Christmas lights were worthy runners up and I am glad I did not have to decide the winner between all three artists. Their snowmen will feature on the back of my Christms card.
My congratulations and thanks to all three of them for their efforts and their artistic flair.
As well as this card, I send a card to a small number of local organisations and individuals that I have met over the past year. I had to pick a picture for the front of this card from the category runners up and after much deliberation chose another snowman – this time it is a joint effort by Gaia and Diezel, both aged 10, of St. Mark’s Staplefield.
As well as prizes for the winners, every child will receive a certificate for entering the competition. The full list of winners, runners up and highly commended entries can be found below:
INFANTS CATEGORY
| Winner | Stanley | Year 2 | St Wilfrid’s (Haywards Heath) |
| Runner Up | Alex | Year 2 | St Wilfrid’s (Haywards Heath) |
| Runner Up | Gabriella | Year 2 | St Wilfrid’s (Haywards Heath) |
| Highly Commended | Elektra | Year 2 | Burgess Hill Girls’ |
| Highly Commended | Darcy | Hedgehogs | Woodlands Meed |
| Highly Commended | Lulu | Hedgehogs | Woodlands Meed |
| Highly Commended | Lily | Year 2 | St Wilfrid’s (Haywards Heath) |
| Highly Commended | Antonia | Year 2 | St Wilfrid’s (Haywards Heath) |
JUNIOR CATEGORY
| Winner | Martha | Year 3 | Lindfield Primary Academy |
| Runner Up | Gaia and Diezel | Laurel | St Mark’s (Staplefield) |
| Runner Up | Onyxia | Year 3 | Burgess Hill Girls’ |
| Runner Up | Lola | Year 5 | The Windmills (Hassocks) |
| Highly Commended | Kip | Laurel | St Mark’s (Staplefield) |
| Highly Commended | Isabella | Laurel | St Mark’s (Staplefield) |
| Highly Commended | Nathan | Year 3 | St Lawrence (Hurstpierpoint) |
| Highly Commended | Christian | Year 3 | St Wilfrid’s (Haywards Heath) |
| Highly Commended | Esme | Year 3 | Lindfield Primary Academy |
| Highly Commended | Lara | Year 5 | Lindfield Primary Academy |
| Highly Commended | Elle | Year 3 | Lindfield Primary Academy |
| Highly Commended | Edith | Year 3 | Lindfield Primary Academy |
SECONDARY CATEGORY
| Winner | Albert | Age 11 | Oathall Community College |
| Runner Up | Charlotte | Year 7 | Oathall Community College |
| Runner Up | Martha | Year 9 | Oathall Community College |
| Highly Commended | Alfie R | Year 11 | Woodlands Meed |
| Highly Commended | Alfie S | Year 11 | Woodlands Meed |
| Highly Commended | Maddy | Year 11 | Oathall Community College |
| Highly Commended | Lexie | Year 7 | Oathall Community College |