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Winchester Poetry Prize 2024 winners announced



The winner of Winchester Poetry Prize 2024 was announced in front of a packed room at The ARC as part of Winchester Poetry Day on Saturday 5th October.


The competition attracted almost 2000 entries this year, with 29 of those entries paid for by other poets/donors using our Pay it Forward Scheme allowing those on low-incomes to participate. There were entries from 38 countries, as well as the UK, including Zambia, Iran, Romania, Pakistan, Finland and New Zealand.


The winner was Oliver Carmichael (UK) with the poem You Ask About My First Kiss.

Second prize went to Adele Evershed (USA) with the poem Hard Labour.

Third prize went to Jordan Hamel (USA) with How To Drive Drunk In A Flaming Paddock. 


The inaugural Kathryn Bevis Prize for the best poem by a Hampshire-based poet, sponsored by The Writing School Online (founded by Kathryn Bevis), was won by Jenny McRobert with the poem Oslo June 2022.

This special prize commemorates much loved poet, Hampshire Poet Laureate 2020-21 and Winchester resident, Kathryn Bevis who died this year. It aims to continue supporting local writers, as she did passionately during her life.


All of the entries were read and judged blind by the poet Clare Shaw, who presented the special prize-giving event to conclude Winchester Poetry Day. The longlisted poets travelled from around the UK to read their poems on the stage at The ARC, with global poets reading their poems online. The event was live-streamed so that audiences around the world could watch. It was also BSL interpreted, live. 


All of the winning, commended and highly commended poems are collected in an anthology entitled To Make Us Real which can be purchased from Winchester Poetry Festival’s online shop, or from P&G Wells Bookshop.


Winchester Poetry Prize 2025 will open in April next year.

With many thanks to our sponsors Paris Smith LLP and The Writing School Online.



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