Skyrack Poll

The Skyrack Poll was an annual poll conducted by Ron Bennett via the Skyrack fanzine from 1960 to 1964. Categories were mostly for UK fan activity although there was also a category for "best professional magazine" and later "best professional feature" and "best professional writer".

Ballots were distributed with Skyrack and some other fanzines. Voting was open to all fans and used some kind of points system with results appearing in the Skyrack Annish. At least some winners were given a a scroll of some kind (Brian Aldiss is noted as saying thanks for his in Skyrack 53).

The 1959 ballot was distributed with Skyrack 13 (February 5, 1960). Results appeared in Skyrack 16 (April 5, 1960). There were 35 voters. "Several fans made sensible and pertinent comments on the poll and there were some witty replies like Jim Linwood's vote for The Melody Maker as best British [prozine]. On the other hand there was the odd childish attempt like listing Nelson's as the best column. Sorry, bwah, you just haven't got it."

The 1960 ballot was distributed with 28 (January 29, 1961). Results were in 31 (April 6, 1961). There were 22 voters. "Whereas it appears traditional in fandom for news magazines to celebrate their birthdays with popularity polls, it also appears that fans may be becoming sickened with poll-form filling in (or out, depending on birthplace, I suppose)".

The 1961 ballot was distributed with 41 (February 1, 1962). Results were in 42 (April 27, 1962). There were 21 voters. "Whilst this number might at first sight be thought to be hardly indicative of the numerical state of fandom today, I think that it, can be said that the poll itself reflects a truly representative cross section."

The 1962 ballot was distributed with 49 (February 4, 1963). Results in 51 (April 4, 1963). There were 26 voters. "Whilst this number is doubtlessly meagre, it was surprising to see, as the ballots rolled in, how certain selections were favoured. On the whole I feel that it may again be said that this year's poll reflects a truly representative cross section of the opinions of fandom as to the merits of British S.F. and fandom per se of 1962."

The 1963 ballot was distributed with 62 (January 29, 1964). Results were in 66 (April 4, 1964). There were 29 voters. "It's no use. I've tried hard, but even after counting the ballot forms three times, I've got to admit that the unlikely event of a tie for first place in the Best Fan Publication section of the Skyrack 1963 Poll has indeed occurred. Skyrack and Hyphen are joint leaders with 191 points each, though I've tried hard to slip in a few extra points for Sky here and there! The actual return was disappointing. 29 worthy fans voted, a slightly larger number than last year, but it should be remembered that over 200 forms were distributed this year"

The 1964 ballot was distributed with 74 (January 31, 1965). Results were in 77 (April 12, 1965). There were 30 voters. "It is naturally appreciated that any fanzine which runs a poll is going to have returns weighted in its favour. Accordingly, the above listing must be taken as a moral victory for Pete Weston's Zenith with its excellent all-round coverage of the sf scene."

At the end of the results section in Skyrack 77, Bennett wrote, "That's it until next year." However there was no poll in 1966 and no explanation for its absence.

Best British Fan Artist

Place	Artist
1960 for 1959
1.	Arthur Thomson
2.	Jim Cawthorn
1961 for 1960
1.	Arthur Thomson
2.	Eddie Jones
1962 for 1961
1.	Arthur Thomson
2.	Eddie Jones
1963 for 1962
1.	Arthur Thomson
2.	Eddie Jones
1964 for 1963
1.	Arthur Thomson
2.	Eddie Jones
3.	Jim Cawthorn
1965 for 1964
1.	Arthur Thomson
2.	Eddie Jones
=3.	Jim Cawthorn
=3.	Brian McCabe

Best Individual Item

Place	Title	Author	Fanzine
1960 for 1959
1.	"The Goon Goes West"	John Berry	Cry of the Nameless
2.	The 1959 Directory of Science Fiction Fandom	Ron Bennett
3.	"Cursery Rhymes for Blown Ups"	Sid Birchby	Aporrheta 14
=4.	"Atom's A to Z"	Arthur Thomson	Aporrheta
=4.	Colonial Excursion	Ron Bennett
1961 for 1960
=1.	The Goon Goes West	John Berry
=1.	"The Practical Fans Guide to Curly Monster Drawing"	Arthur Thomson	Orion 26
1962 for 1961
1.	"How I See It"	Eddie Jones	Bastion 2
1963 for 1962
=1.	Bacover quotes	Various	Hyphen
=1.	"How I See It"	Eddie Jones	Bastion 3
=1.	"Natterings"	Ethel Lindsay	Scottishe
1964 for 1963
1.	"The Harp Stateside"	Walt Willis	Hyphen
1965 for 1964
1.	"General Chuntering"	Ken Slater	Vector

Best Column

Place	Title	Author	Fanzine
1960 for 1959
1.	"Inchmery Fan Diary"	Sandy Sanderson	Aporrheta
2.	"The Old Mill Stream"	"Penelope Fandergaste"	Aporrheta
3.	"The Harp That Once Or Twice"	Walt Willis	Oopsla
4.	"Grunch"	Vin¢ Clarke	Hyphen
5.	"The Li'l Pitcher"	Joy Clarke	Aporrheta
1960 for 1959
=1.	"Inchmery Fan Diary"	Sandy Sanderson	Aporrheta
=1.	"Specs"	Ella Parker	Orion
1962 for 1961
1.	"The Harp That Once Or Twice"	Walt Willis	Warhoon
1963 for 1962
1.	"Scribblings"	Colin Freeman	Scribble
2.	"The Harp That Once Or Twice"	Walt Willis	Warhoon
1964 for 1963
1.	"Machiavarley"	Brian Varley	Scottishe
2.	"Warblings"	Walt Willis	Scottishe
1965 for 1964
1.	"Fanorama"	Walt Willis	Zenith
2.	"Doctor Peristyle"	Pseudonymously, Brian Aldiss	Vector

Best Professional Magazine

Place	Title
1960 for 1959
1.	New Worlds
2.	Science Fantasy
3.	Nebula
1961 for 1960
1.	New Worlds
2.	Science Fantasy
3.	Science Fiction Adventures
1962 for 1961
1.	New Worlds
2.	Science Fantasy
3.	Science Fiction Adventures
1963 for 1962
1.	New Worlds
2.	Science Fantasy
1964 for 1963
1.	Science Fantasy
2.	New Worlds
1965 for 1964
1.	Science Fantasy

Best Fanzine Cover

Place	Title
1960 for 1959
1.	Aporrheta 13	Arthur Thomson
1961 for 1960
1.	Bastion 1	Eddie Jones
1962 for 1961
1.	Bastion 2	Eddie Jones
1963 for 1962
1.	Bastion 3	Eddie Jones
1964 for 1963
1.	Les Spinge 11	Jim Cawthorn
1965 for 1964
1.	Zenith 5	Eddie Jones

Best Report

Place	Title	Author	Venue
1960 for 1959
1.	The Goon Goes West	John Berry
1961 for 1960
=1.	"I Was the Treasurer for the London Con to End All Cons"	Archie Mercer	Cactus 5
=1.	"Specs"	Ella Parker	Orion 25
=1.	The Goon Goes West	John Berry
1962 for 1961
1.	"Aldiss and Heaven Too"	Ian McAulay	Hyphen 28
1963 for 1962
1.	"Parker's Peregrination" Part 1	Ella Parker
2.	"A Canticle For Harrogate"	various	Les Spinge 9
1964 for 1963
1.	"Chicon Report"	Walt Willis
1965 for 1964
=1.	Quotecards Anyone?	Langdon Jones
=1.	Repetercon report in Les Spinge 13	Charles Smith

Best Professional Feature

Place	Title	Author	Venue
1963 for 1962
1.	Guest editorials	Various	New Worlds
1964 for 1963
1.	Guest editorials	Various	New Worlds
1965 for 1964
=1.	"Period of Gestation"	Thom Keyes	Science Fantasy
=1.	The Blue Monkeys	Thomas Burnett Swann	Science Fantasy

Best Professional Writer

Place	Author
1963 for 1962
1.	Brian Aldiss
1964 for 1963
1.	Brian Aldiss
2	J. G. Ballard
1965 for 1964
1.	Brian Aldiss
2	J. G. Ballard

Best Personality

Place	Person
1963 for 1962 "Fan Personality Of the Year"
1.	Ella Parker
2.	Walt Willis
1964 for 1963 "Leading Fan Personality"
1.	Archie Mercer
2.	Ethel Lindsay
1965 for 1964 "Leading Fan Personality"
1.	Archie Mercer

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Award

1960—1965

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