2025 Poetry competition: results

Thank you to all the wonderful poets who submitted entries to our 2025 poetry competitions in celebration of the long tradition of poetry in mid-Wales. We had over 80 entries from as far afield as France, Spain and the USA – as well as England, Scotland and of course Wales itself. Reading the entries as they came in was a delight, in many different ways. Cyril Jones, who judged all three competitions this time, went through the poems three times in his review and sifting to choose winners. He comments:

“It was disappointing that only relatively few Welsh entries were received. There are many Welsh language monthly publications (papurau bro) and it would be worthwhile sending a short article to these papers if the Society decides to organise the competition in future.

Over seventy English poems were received and the majority displayed a strong command of poetic form and imagery. The poems considered

for the prizes adopted the set themes of ‘springs and sources’ to highlight personal links with landscape and the the natural world.

The successful entries this year also display a strong narrative element and this helped them to achieve cohesion and conciseness in their poems.”

Prize giving event on 1 March 2026

We will be holding a prize-giving and discussion of poetry and its role in our changing rural world with some of the winners and the judge on 1 March, in the Library at Neuadd Pantyfadwen, Pontrhydfendigaid. The event will run from 2-5pm. All are welcome. Entrance is free; £1 for tea and cakes.

Prize winners and shortlist

You can read the winning poems in Welsh geiriau a gollwyd… (with translation by the poet here) and Gobaith and in English here.

Cambrian Mountains Poetry Competition:

Best Welsh poem

First prize goes (once again!) to Mari Tudor for her poem: geiriau a gollwyd…

Second prize is Brian Davies: Gobaith

Best English poem

First prize: Carey Powell, for her poem Fifty Years On

Second prize: Sheila Large, for Christopher Williams muses on Blodauwedd as La Source

Mid-Wales Poetry Competition:

This competition was for the best poem (not winning any of the above prizes) from a contributor resident in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion or Powys.

First prize: Nicholas Hayward of Llangurig, for the poem Field Water

Second prize: Lisa McFall of Pontrhydfendigaid for Born of mists and moss

Highly Commended poems:

Mari Tudor for Dŵr Bywiol

Steph Power for Common Ground

Fiona Hayward for Nant Shan and Wye

Sam Christie for Rheidol

Nichola Hayward for Views of Afon Hafren

Iain McClure for How to Behave at a Wake in East Tyrone,

Matt Barnard for Isthmus,

John Gallas for At Pupu Springs,

Olivia Walwyn for Buxton,

Kristen Mears for Forgiving You

Robin Daglish for Flooded Floor

Poetry competition 2025 Results