Sunday 9 November 2008

Bridport winners


Interestingly many winners have MAs or MFAs. Do these make them better writers? Do better writers study for MAs? Do they produce the type of work that wins competitions?
The judges reports are well worth reading. Here's Poetry and here's short story.

Short story - judge Helen Simpson

1st Prize £5000 Elaine Chiew, London. "Face"
2nd Prize £1000 Joanna Quinn, Weymouth, Dorset. "A Pocket Guide to Infidelity for Girls"
3rd Prize £500 Sara Levine, Evanston, USA. "Little Bad"

Supplementary Prizes (alphabetical order) - £50 Each :-
Sarah Evans, Welwyn Garden City, Herts. "On such a night"
Fran Landsman, Bath. "Curl Up and Dye"
Guy Mitchell, London. "Going for a Turkish"
Anna Rawlinson, London. "Portrait of a Lady"
Geraldine Ryan, Chester-le-Street, Durham. "The Greenhouse Effect"
Amy Shuckburgh, London. "Breathing"
Lorna Bruce, Larbert, Scotland. "One for you"
Eve Thomson, Edinburgh, Scotland. "Irrational Acts"
Hilary Wilce, Hawkhurst, Kent. "On the Edge"
Matthew Wright, Hamnavoe Burra, Shetland. "The Butcher and the Thief"

The longlist is massive - no Irish addresses.

Title Writer
1954 Anthony Butten, London
The Beach Hut Anna Reynolds, St Albans, Herts
Getting away Elizabeth Sarkany, London
A Walk in the Park James Cressey, Sicily
My Lord Above David Brown, Auckland, New Zealand
Frank and the Pariah Graham Minett, Pagham, W Sussex
The Day of the Bear Janey Huber, Cambridge
Jetsam Alison Moore, Loughborough, Leics
The Third Place Sarah Holman, Burscough, Lancs
Oi Yoi Yoi Sue Hubbard, London
The Speed of Dark Anne Aylor, London
The Last Grand Illusion Douglas Bruton, West Linton, Scotland
Hushed Nichola Bendall, Chichester, W Sussex
Pegasus Henry Layte, Norwich, Norfolk
The Edge Pippa Maynard, Horley, Surrey
Side-effects Alison Green, Poole, Dorset
The House Call Jacob Appel, New York, USA
A Small Rectangular Dredge Renee Bacher, Baton Rouge, USA
Swan Song Frank Dineen, Wayne, USA
Driving while blind Cheryl Alu, Los Angeles, USA
MooshMoosh Justine Mann, London
The Illusion of Life Nicholas Proctor, Porirua, New Zealand
Vanishing Acts Penny Feeny, Liverpool
No Peeking Michael Schiavone, Gloucester, USA
The Fat Boy Robert Dodds, Edinburgh
Resonance Carey Saleh, Redditch, Worcs
The Sinking Ship Joan Brennan, London
An anniversary, of sorts Gabriela Blandy, Oxford
Snails Rachel Crowther, Oxford
Dolly and the Lambs Annemarie Neary, London
Snow Men Naomi Williams, Davis, USA
Love-lies-bleeding Hilary Spiers, Stamford, Lincs
State of Affairs Drew Gummerson, Leicester
Dreams of Bantry Bay Heather Mulkey, Cobham, Surrey
The Big Road N Nye, Colorado Springs, USA
Boy running Jemma Kennedy, London
The Bird Child Andrea Blundell, Solihull, W Midlands

Poetry Prizewinners. Judge : - David Harsent
David was sent several hundred poems to consider out of thousands entered.

1st Prize £5000 Anne Stewart, Orpington, Kent "Still Water, Orange, Apple, Tea"
2nd Prize £1000 Elizabeth Speller, Cirencester, Glos "Finistère"
3rd Prize £500 Ama Bolton, Wells, Somerset "Time-Travel"

Supplementary Prizes (alphabetical order) - £50 Each :-
Sally Flint, Exeter, Devon "One of us had already tipped the waiters"
John Gerard, Cork, Ireland "In the garden" (Anyone know this poet?)
Christopher James, Haverhill, Suffolk "The Novices"
Chelsea Jennings, Seattle, USA "Travel"
Jenifer Kahawatte, Dover, Kent "View from Bulbarrow"
Hilary Menos, Totnes, Devon "The Joy of Fitze"
Conor O'Callaghan, Manchester "Three Six Five Zero" (An Irish one)
David Swann, Brighton, E Sussex "The path"
Rosamund Kleïs Taylor, Dublin, Ireland "Percival Lowell" Anyone know her? May be from Trinity.
Anne Pierson Wiese, New York, USA "Wild Turkey"

Poetry Long List: (enormous)

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
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
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
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
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
The Assignation Jane McKie, Linlithgow, West Lothian
Oval Sculpture (Delos) Hannah Edwards, Porthcawl, Mid Glamorgan
Stone Walling Vanessa Gebbie, Ringmer, East Sussex
Hobbies and Plans Marianne MacRae, Heckmondwike, W Yorks
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
Snow Cave M. Lee Alexander, Williamsburg, USA
The Singular Cloak Emer Fallon, Co Kerry, Ireland
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
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
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 Shane Slattery-Quintanilla, Del Norte, USA
Evening time tea John O'Keeffe, Galway, Ireland
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
The Path David Swann, Brighton, E Sussex
Riot at Strangeways David Swann, Brighton, E Sussex
Recovered Elisa Pulido, San Juan Capistrano, USA

5 comments:

Karen said...

The short story report was really interesting, although to defend the poor author of On the Edge, there ARE two ways to spell Berkhamsted, so he/she wasn't entirely wrong!

Interesting too that many of the entrants have MAs. I think because they're 'studying' writing day in day out with tutors etc (rather than squeezing it between work and washing up, although they may be doing that as well!) overall they DO produce the type of stories that win major competitions.

As Helen Simpson said though, it's all subjective :o)

George S said...

Apropos of an earlier correspondence: Short story competition:one female judge, all three prize winners female, supplementary prizes: nine female, two male.. rest more than 2:1 female

I don't imagine this is worthy of comment...

Poetry prizes: one male judge: all three prize winners female, supplementary prizes: six female, four male... rest, small majority female..

Nor is this, I imagine.

Emerging Writer said...

Hi George, thanks for dropping by. Yes, interesting figures. in 2009 it went slightly the other way in poetry. I haven't done any figures for short stories. Is there a 'female' short story?

Unknown said...

John Gerard is Matthew Sweeney if I'm not mistaken

Emerging Writer said...

Really? I had no idea. Why the cloak and dagger?