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Welsh Poetry Competition Winners Announced

The eagerly awaited results of the 3rd international Welsh Poetry Competition 2009 were announced on 12 August. The competition was judged by Merthyr-based poet Mike Jenkins.

The winners were as follows:

1st Prize - the origami lesson by John Gallas

2nd Prize - Nan Follows the Bikers on a Day Out by Eluned Rees

3rd Prize - Rails by Lynn Roberts

All winning poems plus the seventeen runners up can be read on the competition website – www.welshpoetry.co.uk along with judges comments.

Once again poets covered a wide variety of themes. From every day subjects and issues that effect us all, like love, loss, history, religion, nature and politics to more obscure subject matter like stealing the moon or making Airfix models of boats.

Some of the poets are well known in the published world but many more appear to be new voices and so the competition has again proved a great success in discovering new talent.

“In 2009 we had entries from Wales, all over the UK, Abu Dhabi, Canada, Ireland, France, Hong Kong, Israel, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Greece, USA and Australia. We also saw an increase in online entries - helped by our Facebook page. And in a year or so we shall soon be in a position to look at publishing an anthology of the best entries, so watch this space.” said Dave Lewis, competition organiser.

“Having famous Welsh poet and writer, Mike Jenkins as judge for this year has helped enormously in us gaining a wider audience again as we continue to expand the reach of the competition. Mike is the co-founder and co-editor of Red Poets, an annual magazine of socialist poetry almost entirely from Wales and I’m sure some of this year’s winners will no doubt be appearing in the next edition”

To get involved with next years 4th competition click here to visit The Welsh Poetry Competition website.

Useful Links
Competition Website: www.welshpoetry.co.uk
Competition Judge: www.mikejenkins.net
Red Poets: www.redpoets.org