The International Welsh Poetry Competition is an annual English language
poetry
Poetry (derived from the Greek ''poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language − such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre − to evoke meanings i ...
award and the largest of its kind in
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
. The contest was founded in 2007 by Welsh writer, poet and photographer Dave Lewis.
It was launched on
St David's Day
Saint David's Day ( cy, Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant or ; ), or the Feast of Saint David, is the feast day of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, and falls on 1 March, the date of Saint David's death in 589 AD. The feast has been regularly celebr ...
2007 in Clwb-Y-Bont,
Pontypridd
() (colloquially: Ponty) is a town and a community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.
Geography
comprises the electoral wards of , Hawthorn, Pontypridd Town, 'Rhondda', Rhydyfelin Central/Ilan ( Rhydfelen), Trallwng (Trallwn) and Treforest (). The ...
.
The competition's judges, who include Welsh poets, have included John Evans,
Mike Jenkins, Eloise Williams, Sally Spedding and Kathy Miles (former
Bridport Prize
Bridport Arts Centre is an arts centre in Bridport, Dorset, England. Founded in 1973, it is housed in and around a 19th-century, Grade II listed building, formerly known as the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. The complex includes the Marlow Theatre, th ...
winner).
The organiser, Dave Lewis, has also edited and published three anthologies of all the winners: ''The First Five Years,'' ''Ten Years On'' and ''The Third One''. In 2020 he also founded the
Poetry Book Awards
Poetry (derived from the Greek '' poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language − such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre − to evoke meanings in ...
, which seeks to reward poets with a book length collection.
Past winners
*2022 Jennifer Hetherington (Fishermans Reach, Australia), ''Cross Words''
*2021 Estelle Price (Wilmslow, England), ''iii''
*2020 Sheila Aldous (Devon, England), ''The Debt Due''
*2019 Damen O'Brien (Queensland, Australia), ''The Map-Makers Tale''
*2018 Judy Durrant (Victoria, Australia), ''Prayer To A Jacaranda''
*2017 Rae Howells (Swansea, Wales), ''Airlings''
*2016 Tarquin Landseer (London, England), ''Blackfish''
*2015 Mick Evans (Carmarthenshire, Wales), ''Map Makers''
*2014 Kathy Miles (Cardigan, Wales), ''The Pain Game''
*2013 Josie Turner (Kent, England), ''Rations''
*2012 Sally Spedding (Ammanford, Wales), ''She wears green''
*2011 David J Costello (Wirral, England), ''Horseshoe Bat''
*2010 Sally Spedding (Ammanford, Wales), ''Litzmannstadt 1941''
*2009
John Gallas (Leicestershire, England), ''The origami lesson''
*2008 Emily Hinshelwood (Ammanford, Wales), ''Visually Speaking''
*2007 Gavin Price (Cardiff, Wales), ''Concrete''
1st ever winner of the international Welsh Poetry Competition
''Official website''.
References
{{reflist, 30em
External links
Official websiteFounder & organiser's website
British poetry awards