Competition 2025

We received wonderful entries in our 2025 LSA CA Ancient Worlds Competition, supported by the Classical Association, as we invited students from across the world to tell us about their favourite ancient myth – and our Four Finalists gave truly outstanding performances!

Overall Winner Sebastian O with Judge Professor Sharon Marshall

Thomas Dunn, from Winchester, gave an excellent talk on Cassandra, situating her within the context of the Trojan War and explaining the curse that she bore, before exploring how her plight tells us much about the human condition and the burden of having knowledge without power.

Lucy Baron, from Crewe, gave a powerful retelling of the myth of Nisus and Euryalus, commanding the stage and noting the poignant language which Virgil uses in the Aeneid to capture the folly and loss of these two comrades, whilst reflecting on how fortune never seems to favour the bold in ancient mythology!

Amelie Harrison, from Bolton, chose Medusa as the mythological character that fascinates and inspires her the most, reflecting on how Medusa has been reclaimed by modern feminists as a symbol of female power rather than monstrous horror. Amelie was voted the Winner of the People’s Choice and had earlier received the Lancashire Award.

Sebastian Onillon, from London, selected Icarus, the boy who flew too close to the sun, and examined the history of how this myth has been received – from the Renaissance through the Romantics to twenty-first century pop culture – and asked whether Icarus is simply a cautionary tale or a modern-day teenage icon? Concluding with a poem and a moving reflection on what youth culture means to him, Sebastian’s talk was both inspiring and thought-provoking.

All four Finalists were very impressive and delivered well researched, informative and entertaining presentations with their own unique interpretations. Professor Marshall had a very difficult task in choosing a winner – she said she would be happy to offer any of them a lecturing job they were so good! – and it was probably our closest ever Final, so very well done indeed to Sebastian who was a really worthy winner.

The Prizes awarded at the Final

1st Prize £200 The LSA CA Champion Award and Laurel Trophy for Schools

2nd Prize £100

3rd Prize £50

4th Prize £50

People’s Choice Award £50 and the People’s Choice Award

Lancashire Classics Award £100 and the LSA CA Lancashire Award

The school of the overall winner is awarded the prestigious LSA CA Laurel Trophy for Schools to be held for one year.

International Award £100 and the LSA CA International Winner’s Certificate

Congratulations to the Joint Winners of our International Competition, Michaela Jana from Kamuzu Academy in Malawi, and Mariam Khurodze from the European School, Georgia.