This year has been another successful year for poets within Perth and Kinross and further afield. With over 300 entries across 5 different categories, our judges had their work cut out picking a winner. We celebrated those who were shortlisted this weekend at our prize giving’s for adults and children where a number of poets had the chance to read out their work and talk about their inspiration. Both of these celebrations were thought-provoking and it was interesting to see young people address topics such as the Holocaust, war and identity. Our judges Marcas Mac An Tuairneir and Samuel Tongue provided their thoughts on the shortlisted entrants at the prize giving’s and encouraged all those who attended to never give up writing!
Below are the winners and shortlisted entrants for each category:
Adult
Winner – Matt Bryden
2nd Place – Julia Webb
Local winner – Roderick Manson
Highly commended
Ian Garbutt
Maria Isakova Bennett
Sheila Templeton
Sylvia Anne Telfer
Commended
Carolyn Gillespie
Lauren Pope
Ruth Aylett
9-11 Children
Winner – Oakley Harvey
2nd place – Hannah Holden
Highly commended
Ailsa Templeton
Charlie Mailer
Anna Catherine Smith
Ollie Anderson
Commended
Adam Stamp
Beth Dimmock
Charlie Timoney
Connor Green
12-15 Children
Winner – Lewis Kipps
2nd place – Jesse Anderson
Highly commended
Anna Heezen
Jacob Moray Parker
Emily Wallington
Arthur Moss
Commended
Amy McCarthy
Julien Rosfelder
Sophie Louise
Charlotte Slater
9-11 Gaelic children
Winner – Ewan Stevenson
2nd place – Matilda Milton
12-15 Gaelic children
Winner – Annie Pointer
2nd place – Jessica Hood
All of the above-shortlisted poems will be available as an E-book through Culture Perth and Kinross libraries to read later this year.
A special thanks to Aberdein Considine and the Gaelic Book Council for supporting the competition this year. We look forward to entries of short stories for our next Soutar Writing competition.