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Bridport Prize 2008 - Short Story Prizewinner's. Judge :- Helen Simpson

Story Short List

(in no particular order)

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

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 Administered by and raises funds for