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Graffiti wins Rhys Davies Short Story Competition

Sian Preece 

Siân Preece from Cardiff has been announced as this year’s Rhys Davies Short Story Competition winner by judges Niall Griffiths and Stevie Davies receiving First Prize of £1000. Her story Getting Up is about a young graffiti artist who, on finding some cave paintings, encounters the power, magic and responsibility of art. Having recently completed an MA in Creative Writing at Cardiff University Siân is now working on a novel and a second short story collection. She said “I love the short story form and I'm delighted to be part of an event that celebrates it in Wales.”

The winners were announced at a prize-giving ceremony in Bar One, Wales Millennium Centre on Tuesday 2 February 2010. The ten equal runners-up in the competition each receiving £100 are: Angela Graham from Cardiff; Robert Hunt from Caerphilly; Clementine Hollister from Newcastle Upon Tyne; Craig Hawes from Briton Ferry; Mike Jenkins from Merthyr Tydfil; Sam Kemp from Blackwood; Dave Lewis from Pontypridd; Joâo Morais from Cardiff; Jeb Loy Nichols from Welshpool and Sarah Wishart from London. Click here for more information on all of the winners

2009 Rhys Davies Winners photo by John Briggs

The 2009 Rhys Davies Short Story Competition Winners

Academi Chief Executive Peter Finch said: “The Rhys Davies Competition is one of the few places that promotes that underrated form – the short story. Short fiction is something we excel at in Wales. The Academi’s Rhys Davies contest identifies the best.”

Kate McAll, Senior Producer of Radio Drama at BBC Wales, also announced at the ceremony that three of the prize-winning stories, Getting Up by Siân Preece, Dammed by Sarah Wishart and Zeina by Craig Hawes, will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March. The stories will be read by Torchwood star Gareth David LloydPobol y Cwm actress Caryl Morgan and Gavin and Stacey's Dave Coaches played by Steffan Rhodri.  

The stories will be broadcast as follows:
Afternoon Reading:  Rhys Davies Award Winners - BBC R4
 
- Tuesday 9 March at 3.30 pm - Getting Up by Sian Preece, read by Gareth David Lloyd

- Wednesday 10th March at 3.30 pm - Dammed by Sarah Wishart, read by Caryl Morgan

- Thursday 11th March at 3.30 pm - Zeina by Craig Hawes,read by Steffan Rhodri

For more information on the competition visit: www.academi.org/rhysdavies/

Contact Academi on:
029 2047 2266 / post@academi.org