‘The Streak’ 2025 Caption Contest winners
Hello Everyone,
My heartfelt thanks to all those who entered the 2025 Caption Contest. It was a lot of fun reading your delightful captions. This year’s contest cartoon shows the Grim Reaper sitting in prison with his iconic scythe while his legal counsel visits to discuss his case. This cartoon elicited many varied captions, and as with previous contests, the response was brilliant. There were almost 700 entries from 12 countries.
This year I had the kind of entries that makes running the contest so worthwhile. ‘The Streak’ readers certainly understand comedic structure, character voice and visual storytelling.
It was difficult to crown a winner but this is exactly the kind of problem you want to have: multiple genuinely excellent captions that split the judging panel. It means the cartoon for the contest worked perfectly.
The judging panel consisted of respected colleagues and friends from Australia, the UK and the USA whose critical judgement I trust and admire. They included my comics editor, sub-editors, cartoonists, comedians and teachers, to name a few. We were looking for something unique, surprising or out of left field, with perfectly crafted wording that fitted the cartoon’s setting.
I trust you’ll agree that these finalists are all worthy!
And now … the envelope please …
SHRRRRRRRRRRIP!
The winner of the 2025 Caption Contest is …
KYAL SHEPARD from Adelaide, Australia.
The winning caption was universally popular, with broad appeal across international comedy cultures and sensibilities. It is longer than most entries, but every word earns its place. And the escalation is perfect. You can hear the exasperation in lawyer’s voice, trying to manage an impossible caseload of dreadful clients while racing against the clock.
The caption is imaginative, darkly funny and satisfying, showing off Kyal’s sharp comedic instinct and writing skills.
Congratulations, Kyal. Your caption is a worthy winner.
Now, for those interested, my potential captions for this cartoon are below. But after writing them, I decided the drawing would be great for a caption contest. You can decide if this was the right choice.
My captions:
“I thought you’d be happy with the death penalty.”
“Let’s offer the entire jury an extra 10 years of life.”
“They’re charging you with murder, but I think I can downgrade it to natural causes.”
Following are the 2025 honourable mentions, who will receive signed prints featuring their captions. The competition was fierce, the entries were clever, and choosing just one winner was genuinely difficult. To everyone who entered, thank you again for making this year’s contest such a success, and for proving that my readers are funnier than I am.
“Wear a tie when we go to court. And maybe don’t bring the murder weapon.”
John Konno, Tokyo, Japan (2024 winner)
“I’ll see what I can do about getting you onto Death Row, but no promises.”
Gary Petras, Pennsylvania, USA
“Sorry, did you say you’d like 52 billion other offences taken into account?”
Louise Comb, East Yorkshire, UK (2015 winner)
“I thought we agreed, David, no more robbing the fancy dress store.”
Emily Swan, Staffordshire, England, UK
“For now, just try to stay positive.”
Andy Lake, Lismore, Australia
“I’ve managed to get you a prison job making license plates for hearses.”
Paul Bland, Yakima, Washington, USA
“I hope this makes you think twice about your actions.”
Kassy Menke, Los Angeles, California, USA
“I’d appreciate you not giggling every time I say “hung jury”.”
Marc Siegel, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
“I did my best, you could try to be grateful.”
and
“Pestilence ratted you out.”
Paul Nesja, Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, USA
“No pardon. But they’re naming the row after you.”
Brian Steer, Wigan, England, UK
“Unfortunately, they don’t have a cell with a view of a cemetery.”
and
“I may have found a loophole, they cannot convict you if you are dead.”
Ron Gray, Darwin, Australia (2018 winner)
Answer with: “I’ve changed, and it will never happen again”.
and
“I assume they didn’t do a cavity search.”
Scott Malcolm, Ontario, Canada
“Allegedly.”
Beth Lawler, Montclair, New Jersey, USA
“The judge will let this slide if you visit his mother-in-law.”
And
“Fine, keep the scythe. But put on a straw hat and overalls and we’ll tell the jury you’re a farmer.”
Jacob Roberts, Burlington, Vermont, USA
“The governor wants your help – the electric chair is broken”
Ron Kendal, Manchester, England, UK (2023 winner)
“Yep, you murderers always make one little mistake …”
Valerie Falconer, Llandough, Wales, UK
“I’d advise you to make no comment.”
Stephen Charles, Surrey, England, UK
“Can you round it off to the nearest billion?”
Diane Olive, Port Charlotte, Florida USA
“I’ve got cash in the bag. How much for another 5 years?”
Jacqui Molloy, Manchester, England, UK
“Thanks for offering to help with our prison overcrowding issue.”
Simon Paul Miller, Warwickshire, UK (2021 winner)
“I’m not surprised they’re keeping you in solitary.”
Russell Starr, Adelaide, Australia
“I hope you’ve learnt your lesson. It’s rude to point.”
Peter Herron, Jedburgh, Scotland, UK
“I’m just not sure “population control” is a valid defence”
Mark Strout, Massachusetts, USA (2022 winner)
See you next November for another round of caption chaos. Until we speak again, best regards and wishing you many more guffaws! Tony