The International Welsh Poetry Competition was an annual English-language poetry award, once the largestOfficial website of its kind in Wales. The contest was founded in 2007 by Welsh writer, poet and photographer Dave Lewis.
It was launched on St David's Day 2007 in Clwb-Y-Bont, Pontypridd.
The competition's judges, all Welsh poets, have included John Evans, Mike Jenkins, Eloise Williams (former Children's Laureate Wales), Sally Spedding, Kathy Miles (former Bridport Prize winner) and Mick Evans.
The organiser, Dave Lewis,Bylines Cymru has also edited and published four anthologies of all the winners: The First Five Years,'The First Five Years' The First Five Years Ten Years On,'Ten Years On' Ten Years On The Third One,'The Third One' The Third One and The Final Cut.'The Final Cut' The Final Cut
In 2020, he also founded the Maya Poetry Book Awards, which seeks to reward indie/small press poets with a book-length collection.
Past winners 2026 kerry rawlinson (British Columbia, Canada), Kokanee, SpawningPoetry Publisher. Poetry Publisher 2025 Mark Lewis (Kilgetty, Wales), Notes from a transported convictNation Cymru. Nation Cymru 2024 Gill Learner (Reading, England), Once Upon A TimeOfficial website. Official website 2023 Jenny McRobert (Winchester, England), Pegasus RisingWelsh Poetry Sunday. Bylines Cymru. 2022 Jennifer Hetherington (Fishermans Reach, Australia), Cross WordsNews of the Area. Australian newspaper. 2021 Estelle Price (Wilmslow, England), iiiEstelle Price wins Wales Biggest Poetry Contest. Writers of Wales. 2020 Sheila Aldous (Devon, England), The Debt DueSheila Aldous wins Welsh Poetry Competition. Poetry Society. 2019 Damen O'Brien (Queensland, Australia), The Map-Makers Tale1st Prize goes to Australian poet Damen O'Brien. The Poetry Society. 2018 Judy Durrant (Victoria, Australia), Prayer To A Jacaranda1st Prize goes to Australian poet Judy Durrant for her haunting poem about the film and true life events surrounding 'Wolf Creek. Literature Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2018. 2017 Rae Howells (Swansea, Wales), AirlingsInspired by an evening walk during a family trip to Liverpool. Literature Wales. Retrieved 10 August 2017. 2016 Tarquin Landseer (London, England), BlackfishCongratulations to Tarquin Landseer, Creative Writing MA Poetry and Poetics student, who has won first prize in the International Welsh Poetry Competition 2016 University of Royal Holloway Facebook page. Retrieved 23 August 2016. 2015 Mick Evans (Carmarthenshire, Wales), Map MakersCinnamon Press article. Cinnamon Press. 2014 Kathy Miles (Cardigan, Wales), The Pain GameAmericymru. Americymru news. 1 December May 2014. 2013 Josie Turner (Kent, England), RationsBook a Poet. Book A Poet. 2012 Sally Spedding (Ammanford, Wales), She wears green. Excerpts from her writing career. 2011 David J Costello (Wirral, England), Horseshoe BatWrite Out Loud Write Out Loud news. 2010 Sally Spedding (Ammanford, Wales), Litzmannstadt 1941It’s no mystery who deserves writers’ prize Wales Online. Retrieved 19 August 2010. 2009 John Gallas (Leicestershire, England), The origami lessonWelsh Poetry Competition Anthology 2011 The First Five Years 2007-2011. 2008 Emily Hinshelwood (Ammanford, Wales), Visually SpeakingWales Online article Wales Online. 2007 Gavin Price (Cardiff, Wales), Concrete1st ever winner of the international Welsh Poetry Competition Official website.
References
External links Official website Founder & organiser's website