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Bridport Prize 2008 - Poetry Prizewinner's. Judge : - David Harsent

Judges poetry report

Photographs of the Poetry prize giving

1st Prize £5000 Anne Stewart, Orpington, Kent "Still Water, Orange, Apple, Tea"

Anne Stewart 'discovered' a passion for poetry in her 40s and, five years on, began making a life where poetry was key and where she could make her own serious contribution to the poetry pool. She founded and is editor of poetry p f, an on-line showcase for poets, and provides freelance technical services to poets and poetry organisations. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Sheffield Hallam University, and is one of the 'Ten Hallam Poets' (Mews Press 2005). Her work has been published in a growing list of magazines and anthologies, including web and e-zines. www.poetrypf.co.uk

2nd Prize £1000 Elizabeth Speller, Cirencester, Glos "Finistère"

Elizabeth Speller lives in Gloucestershire and has been a reader and writer of poetry since a child. Her poems have won several prizes in the past. She read Classics at Lucy Cavendish College at Cambridge University as a mature student and held a Hosking Houses Residency in 2008. She has written for publications as diverse as The Big Issue, New Statesman, Sunday Times, Independent and Vogue and has published four non-fiction books. Perhaps the strangest enterprise was combining her own words with Milton and Shakespeare in a libretto commissioned by Paul McCartney for his wife, Linda: Farewell, composed by Michael Berkeley. She has just finished her first novel, A Frost of Cares.

www.elizabethspeller.com

Faber: Hadrian: A Second Century Journey Round the Roman World.

Granta Guide to Athens.

Granta Guide to Rome.

Granta: Sunlight in the Garden: a family in love, war and madness.

3rd Prize £500 Ama Bolton, Wells, Somerset "Time-Travel"

Degree in Classics, Keele, 1967. Employment: various, including Bluegrass musician, computer programmer and artist's model; currently jobbing gardener and freelance book-artist. Motto: nihil obstat.

Supplementary Prizes (alphabetical order) - £50 Each :-

Sally Flint, Exeter, Devon "One of us had already tipped the waiters"

Sally Flint is a published writer of poetry and prose and co-editor of the short story journal, Riptide www.riptidejournal.co.uk Her creative writing doctoral research at the University of Exeter involves examining ekphrastic practice in contemporary poetics. She is also a facilitator for ‘Stories Connect’, a pilot project in the UK, which helps ex-offenders and substance mis-users ‘change their lives through literature’.

John Gerard, Cork, Eire "In the garden"

Christopher James, Haverhill, Suffolk "The Novices"

Christopher James was born in Paisley in 1975; after studying poetry at Newcastle he graduated with an MA in Creative Writing from UEA. He is a recipient of an Eric Gregory Award, twice winner of the Ledbury Poetry Prize as well as the winner of the Bridport Prize for poetry in 2002. He was also a Bridport runner up in 2006 and 2008. He lives in Suffolk and works in London as Head of Communications for The Scout Association. His first collection The Invention of Butterfly is available from www.raggedraven.co.uk - home of Ragged Raven Press.

Chelsea Jennings, Seattle, USA "Travel"

Chelsea Jennings holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Washington in Seattle, where she is currently pursuing a PhD in Literature. Her poetry has appeared in The GW Review, Poet Lore, and Best New Poets 2007.

Jenifer Kahawatte, Dover, Kent "View from Bulbarrow"

Jenifer Kahawatte is a student on the part-time MA in Creative Writing course at the University of Kent. She has been a computer programmer / systems analyst and primary school teacher, but has now retired and writes and dances for pleasure. In 2008 she was shortlisted for the University’s T.S.Eliot Prize and won the Broadstairs Spring Festival poetry competition.

Hilary Menos, Totnes, Devon "The Joy of Fitze"

Hilary Menos was born in Luton in 1964. She studied PPE at Wadham College, Oxford, then worked as a journalist in London before moving to Devon to renovate a Domesday Manor. She now runs an organic farm near Totnes with her husband and four sons.

She was one of five first stage winners of The Poetry Business Book and Pamphlet Competition 2004 and her pamphlet, Extra Maths, is published by Smith/Doorstop Books. She was one of 17 poets featured in the Oxford Poets 2007 Anthology published by Carcanet. Her first collection, Berg, will be published by Seren Books in 2010.
www.hilarymenos.co.uk

Conor O'Callaghan, Manchester "Three Six Five Zero"

Conor O’Callaghan was born in Ireland in 1968. He has published three collections of poems, of which the most recent, Fiction (Gallery Press, 2005), was a PBS Recommendation. He teaches on the MA in Writing at Sheffield Hallam University.

David Swann, Brighton, E Sussex "The path"

David Swann celebrates his fifth success at the Bridport Prize. Having escaped from his job as a writer in a jail, he now teaches in the English Department at the University of Chichester. He previously lived in Accrington, Amsterdam, Morecambe, and London, working as a toilet cleaner, journalist, warehouseman, and janitor. He divides his time between Brighton and Hove.

Publications: ‘The Last Days of Johnny North’ (Elastic Press, 2006), a collection of short stories. Forthcoming: ‘The Privilege of Rain’ (Waterloo Press, 2009), an anthology of poems about life in prison

Rosamund Kleïs Taylor, Dublin, Eire "Percival Lowell"

Rosamund Kleïs Taylor I am from Dublin, but currently study English at the University of Dundee. I enjoy wine gums, palindromes and Minoan art. This year I have had two poems published in magazines edited by students of Trinity College, Dublin: "Icarus" and "The Attic". This is the first competition that I have entered.

Anne Pierson Wiese, New York, USA "Wild Turkey"

Anne Pierson Wiese grew up in Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. and currently resides in Manhattan with her husband. In 2004, her poem, “In the Beginning,” was the 2nd place prize-winner in Great Britain’s Arvon International Poetry Contest; she was also a winner in the 2004 “Discovery”/The Nation Poetry Contest. In 2005, she received a Poetry Fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts, and in 2006 her first poetry collection, Floating City (Louisiana State University Press, 2007), received the Academy of American Poets Walt Whitman Award.

Wiese’s first poetry collection, Floating City, was published by Louisiana State University Press in 2007. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in many journals in the United States, among them: The Nation, Ploughshares, The Hudson Review, The Virginia Quarterly Review, Raritan, Quarterly West, and The Southwest Review.

Poetry Short List

(in no particular order)

Title	Writer
Luther Burbank	Charles Mountford, Stratford, Canada
Bedsit	Fiona Stevenson, Celbridge, Eire
Recollection	Rona Laycock, Avening, Glos
growth	Alan Stubbs, Carlisle, Cumbria
socks	Alan Stubbs, Carlisle, Cumbria
At Inger's Flat	Adam Hansen, Newcastle upon Tyne
The Weir of Lord Armstrong's Benefaction	Adam Hansen, Newcastle upon Tyne
A Fantasy Parade	Lucy van Baars, Bristol
Rays	Abi Curtis, Farnham, Surrey
On being given my Grandfather's gloves	Ian Salkey, Abbots Langley, Herts
It's a beautiful town	Ian Salkey, Abbots Langley, Herts
Finistère	Elizabeth Speller, Cirencester, Glos
Wild Turkey	Anne Pierson Wiese, New York, USA
The Radio Tells Us It's Snowing in Montauk	Anne Pierson Wiese, New York, USA
climbing postcards	Judy Kendall, Salford
Mr Mori's report	Judy Kendall, Salford
…and morning comes	Jack Stanley, London
Journey	Elizabeth Rowe, Yelverton, Devon
R.S.V.P.	Beverley Nadin, Sheffield
Low carbon Dad	Keith Hilling, Swindon, Wilts
Desert Dance	Margaret Eddershaw, Nafplion, Greece
Elizabeth's Diary: 1st September	Carole Bromley, York
Job's Servant	Carole Bromley, York
The Bridle Path	Bill Greenwell, Morchard Bishop, Devon
What Will Happen To The Neighbours…	Kathryn Maris, London
Tiger Moth	Tony Roberts, Manchester
Mrs Bunting	Charles Evans, London
Stolen Paintings	John Hubbard, Bournemouth, Dorset
The Cobblestone Layer Talks About His Work	Mike Horwood, Tampere, Finland
Digging the Ore	Isobel Thrilling, Romford, Essex
Goldfish	Will Vaughan, Castle Cary, Somerset
In the garden	John Gerard, Cork, Eire
Percival Lowell	Rosamund Kleiss Taylor, Dublin, Eire
Ending	Christopher Horton, London
Girder-Bashers	Philip Hancock, Stoke on Trent, Staffs
Sudoku	Roddy Williams, London
Picnic Photograph	Robert Hartford, Beaford, Devon
Galilee	James Womack, Cambridge
Night Fishing - Kyushu	Linda Lamus, Bristol
Reunion	Julia Webb, Norwich, Norfolk
Linocut Weasel	J Weir, Manchester
Porpoise	Emily Hinshelwood, Ammanford, Wales
Señor Rodriguez	Amy McCauley, Scarborough
Heatwave	Sean Street, Christchurch, Dorset
Punched out Romance	Eve Belsey, London
Where have you been?	Geoff Slater, Luton, Beds
Departure from Arnisdale	Paul G. Deaton, Bristol
The Field	Richard Lambert, Bristol
Standing in front of Turner's 'Northam Castle'	A Flitcroft, Lichfield, Staffs
Is that the most important thing…?	Laila Farnes, Nittedal, Norway
The Wearing of Skin	Judith Watts, Twickenham, Middlesex
The Door	Joan Michelson, London
Losing the music	Irene Rawnsley, Settle, N Yorks
Nine Month Dream	Pippa Little, Cramlington, Northumbria
Baby's Homecoming	Lisa Kelly, London
The Square	Jane Draycott, Henley on Thames, Oxon
Three Six Five Zero	Conor O'Callaghan, Manchester
Antique Telephone	Mick Wood, Strasbourg, France
Reciprocal	Rose Flint, Corsley, Wilts
Saintes Maries de la Mer	Stephanie Norgate, Midhurst, W Sussex
Land's End: not talking about….	Jane Evans, Ware, Herts
Cowslips	Vona Groarke, Manchester
Eating green grapes on a yellow bus	James Manlow, Bournemouth, Dorset
The Forest Seamstress	Jenny Hope, Martley, Worcs
Self Portrait with Blue Guitar	Michael McCarthy
The Appointment	Michael McCarthy
Seen From My Bed	Pat Borthwick, Kirby Underdale, Yorks
The room with faces in round frames	Jane Boston, Brighton, Sussex
The Abstract	Josie Turner, Hitchen, Herts
Relic	Anna Woodford, Newcastle upon Tyne
From the stonemason to his wife	Catherine M. Brennan, Mitcham, Surrey
Last One Out	Robert Hamberger, Houghton on the Hill, Leics
The Taken Road	Alan Franks, Richmond, Surrey
I would give you marshmallow bones…	Kath McKay, Leeds
Clinker Built	Alexander Hamilton, Argyll, Scotland
Still Water, Orange, Apple, Tea	Anne Stewart, Orpington, Kent
On the first night in the cottage…	Judy Brown, London
The Wild Boar	Edmund Matyjaszek, Ryde, IOW, Hants
The Hare's Tale	Harriet Torr, Thurso, Scotland
Baths	Shaun Levin, London
Something	Olive Ritch, Aberdeen
Offence	Richard Meier, London
Tables for two	Richard Meier, London
Mah-Jong	Ben Rogers, London
The Language of Lorries	River Wolton, Hope Valley, Derbyshire
Driving to Aldeburgh	River Wolton, Hope Valley, Derbyshire
Fossil of a human heart speaks…	Lucy Ingrams, London
What's Below, in Singapore	Alison Lester, Singapore
Lengths	Wales
Bristol	Sally Spedding, Ammanford, Wales
The Train	Michael Parker, Basildon, Essex
Bathing	Alesha Racine, Cambridge
Blood Love	Devon McC Jackson, Santa Fe, USA
Note to Mum	Paul Garcia, Melford, Suffolk
Dianthus	Barry Dempster, Ontario, Canada
The Maples are Bleeding	Barry Dempster, Ontario, Canada
Mother of Pearl	Andrew Leggett, Seven Hills, Queensland, Australia
Help o'clock	Kate Camp, Wellington, New Zealand
Memories and Cake	Caitlin Holland, Plymouth
Lower Marsh Market	Sara Knapp, Reading
You Will Know When You Leave	Laura Solomon, Nelson, New Zealand
Old Man of the Sea	Russell Jones, Much Wenlock, Shropshire
Hibakusha / Survivor	S Chalmers, Hamilton, New Zealand
Untitled Love Poem III	Andrew Proffitt, Glasgow
Spring Fever	Helen Mort, Cambridge
Leather Seats and Other Stories	Katie Beswick, London
Plea Bargain	Joseph Grikis, MD, USA
Poole in November	Martin Fraser, Poole, Dorset
Ladybird	Deborah Nichols, Oxford
Stepdaughter	Tor George, Brentford, Middlesex
Therapy	Marlo Bester-Sproul, NC, USA
Spiral Chatting	Pamela Odunaiya, Sunbury, Middlesex
Bombay Harbour 1944	Owen Lowery, Wigan, Lancs
Urisk	Rachel Morgan, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire
Darkness	Marisela Berenguel, Aylsbury
View from Bulbarrow	Jenifer Kahawatte, Dover, Kent
The Assignation	Jane McKie, Linlithgow, West Lothian
The Joy of Fitze	Hilary Menos, Totnes, Devon
Oval Sculpture (Delos)	Hannah Edwards, Porthcawl, Mid Glamorgan
Stone Walling	Vanessa Gebbie, Ringmer, East Sussex
Hobbies and Plans	Marianne MacRae, Heckmondwike, W Yorks
The Novices	Christopher James, Haverhill, Suffolk
It is the rain	Julius Mendoza, Switzerland
Sleepy Dogs of Pompeii	Kay Fletcher, Tipton, W Midlands
Loft	Harry Bauld, New York, USA
Blooming in Barcelona	Pamela Mordecai, Toronto, Canada
Two Kids	Atar Hadari, London
There it is	Hannah Price, London
Travel	Chelsea Jennings, Seattle, USA
Snow Cave	M. Lee Alexander, Williamsburg, USA
The Singular Cloak	Emer Fallon, Co Kerry, Eire
Terracotta	Mark Cooper, Halesowen, W Midlands
Vinyl	Mark Cooper, Halesowen, W Midlands
Crocuses	Mark Cooper, Halesowen, W Midlands
His Hands	Noel Duffy, Dublin, Eire
Thin Red Line	Lynn Roberts, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Losing Hylas	Lynn Roberts, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Shopping	Will Bartlett, Wem, Shropshire
A photograph of Ted	Lydia Macpherson, Babraham, Cambs
An African Scarf	Lydia Macpherson, Babraham, Cambs
Jungleland	Lydia Macpherson, Babraham, Cambs
Pastoral	Lydia Macpherson, Babraham, Cambs
The Shave	Glynis Charlton, Hull E Yorks
Ourself	Lydia Macpherson, Babraham, Cambs
Walking in the Woods	Lydia Macpherson, Babraham, Cambs
Dusk to Dawn	Yu Yan Chen, Bath
Kingdom Come	Gill Saxon, Cambridge
Not a Political Poem	Maria Dines, Hoddesdon, Herts
Post-Colloquium Blues	Michael D Jackson, Lexington, USA
Man's Work	Graham Clifford, London
Apricot Brandy	James Sutherland-Smith, Belgrade, Serbia
After the Action Movie	James Sutherland-Smith, Belgrade, Serbia
204 North Road	Kim Patrick, Airdrie, Lanarkshire
The Language of Stairs	Geraldine Mills, Galway, Eire
Doorstop	Melanie Cross, Southampton
Time-Travel	Ama Bolton, Wells, Somerset
Alpine Choughs	Petra Regent, Bristol
Father Butterfly	Giles Ford, London
Imperial 58	Gemma Collins, Exeter
Small Town Christmas	Lindy Barbour, Carnwath, S Lanarkshire
Strange Fruit	Nandita Ghose, London
Bomb Crater, 1944	Sue Stern, Cheadle, Cheshire
Song for a Sichuan Child	Ellen Cranitch, London
The Promise	Charles Lauder, Lutterworth
Washing your hair	Neville Beal, Oxford
1789	Neil Fleming, Badwell Ash, Suffolk
History	Neil Fleming, Badwell Ash, Suffolk
Lil	Sally Goldsmith, Sheffield
The Bird	Sally Goldsmith, Sheffield
The Visit	Cheryl Moskowitz, London
Anne	Fiona Rintoul, Glasgow
The Old Crabapple	Paul Clemente, New York, USA
Massage Therapy	David Shook, Hollywood, USA
One of us had already tipped the waiters	Sally Flint, Exeter, Devon
Mushroom	Marianne Burton, London
The Phoenician Sailor's Wife	Jane McKinley, New Jersey, USA
Little Cove	Loveday Why, Malden, Essex
Below Stairs	Isabella Mead, Cambridge
A Dark Drop	Belgium
Paris	Sam Riviere, Melton Constable, Norfolk
Cold Call	Sam Riviere, Melton Constable, Norfolk
Slugs	Matt Kirkham, Kircubbin, Co Down
San Luis, Co	USA
Evening time tea	John O'Keeffe, Galway, Eire
R. Duncan	Alice Willington, Oxford
The road spit you out	Infe Weldekidan, Milwaukie, USA
Photo of dead mountain climber	Dore Kiesselbach, Minneapolis, USA
Camberwell Apples	Pam Vincent, London
Towers of Babel	Maddie Grigg, Beaminster, Dorset
Black Dog	Michael Harris, London
Safari into the Rift	Elaine Lambert, Stonehouse, Glos
Last Post	J R Gillie, Eastbourne, Sussex
Rubble	Adam Steventon, London
Sadie's Poem	Lavinia Motoc, Heathfield, E Sussex
Gifts	David Swann, Brighton, E Sussex
The Path	David Swann, Brighton, E Sussex
Riot at Strangeways	David Swann, Brighton, E Sussex
Recovered	Elisa Pulido, San Juan Capistrano, USA

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Bridport Prize 2008 - Poetry Prizewinner's. Judge : - David Harsent

Poetry Short List

(in no particular order)

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