Just noticed no-one has started a thread about this event so here goes.
After a very pleasant drive to Hebden apart from and yet including the tiny narrow lanes my sat-nav directed me through, my friend Val Cook and i arrived safely into a beautiful setting with a hive of local pubs which incidentally were all also open. A far cry from my home town of Wigan i might add.
We ventured across the bridge into realms unknown looking for someone we knew. Paul Blackburn greeted us with something like relief written on his smiling face and 'workers' written on his forehead as if the word had jumped out of his mind. If i didn't know him better i would have thought he felt he'd seen a couple of angels walk in the door. :-)

It's the first time i've visited Hebden and hopefully will not be the last. It had a distinctly homely feel for me. ( my family history is Yorkshire btw) The venues room was compact for the number of people who attended this slam event but the atmosphere was ter-rif-fic. Warm, friendly and dare i say spiritual?

Anyway, there was thirteen poets of all ages, style and experience. I enjoyed listening to them all but some struck chords within me while others performed heartfelt pieces which touched my soul.
Pete Crompton performed his ''Mental Health' poem in the second half. His sheer determination to attend events despite his broken ankle and the many stairs he had to climb shows the man he is even though he sported a pair ( yes a PAIR) of fishnet stockings. Went very well with his black plaster cast. We didn't manage to hear the end as Paul was 'over-eager' with his horn. joking Paul, honestly. I'm only jealous 'cos i didn't get the chance this time around. :-)
Seamus Kelly had an attack of insomnia. Ooops sorry, i mean short term memory loss. He finally discovered who he was at the end of his performance of the poem ''I.D.''
Simon Rennie i saw for the first time performing. He wrote a poem just for me. Sorry, can't remember the title but it was about the ignorance of writing not poetry and ignorance of the technical terms etc... i'm sure you catch my drift.
John Ridgeway performed his God poetry which was a bit lost on some people and a timely reminder for others.
Richard Eccles poems were about his Mum in the first half and then about baldness in his finale. Sadly he didn't get to finish his either. Not much point in placing little curls or hair raisng comments here then is there.
Atar Hadari i've never met before and his performance was one which sadly i cannot recall and the same with Jim Donaghe and i didn't make notes 'cos i was busy keeping score. Sorry, maybe someone else can fill in.
A very relaxed looking Winston Plowes gave us a few little funny poems which were a delight to hear and uplifted the proceedings with smiles, good natured cringes at the punch lines and he received very warm applause.
Gus Jonnson i thought was a little subdued on this occasion, he performed his 'Kingly' poem with his usual panache yet somehow there was something missing from his normally jovial and theatrical approach to slams. I did enjoy the show though.
Sophie Hall as you all know now won the slam and i make no apologies for cheering her on wherever she goes. I'm happy to admit my opinion about her poetry is biased. I just love her approach and her work. This girl will go far if she can stay level headed and keep writing and practising. Well done Sophie.
Cain White is a poet who i've wanted to watch for some time. His poetry is often funny but on this occasion he performed one about the effects domestic violence has on a child.
Wow, i've read the poem on this site before but his performance of it really touched me deeply and brought a tear to my eyes. It is a powerful poem.
Emma Decent is a new member to the site i think or she's recently updated her profile which i haven't seen before. She was 'naked' in the first half and very 'blue' in the second. This didn't have any adverse affect on either the audience or the judges. She came in fourth place. Well done Emma. :-)
Ben Willens is another poet i haven't seen before and to tell the truth i can't in all honesty say i knew what his poem was about, not that i didn't want to listen, just that his whole being bounced. His performance was so very different from anything i've seen before i was mesmerized by his performance technique. He was a bit like a ranting but not too fast thug. A bovver boy. I can't describe it but the beat was fantastic and when i say he bounced, his voice bounced and boomed around the room then rebounded back. Amazing. I was stunned he didn't get in the final four. Astounding.

Chris Jam looked so relaxed and his appearance and performance in the break was so well delivered, if his voice had been quiet i would have fallen to sleep peacefully. But he has a very spiritual, young adult outlook on life and his presence speaks volumes not to mention his poetry which is often quite political and yet delivered without judgement.
He's becoming well liked on the poetry scene. He appeared to be enjoying his experience of being one of the judges on this occasion. Really interesting man.

Scores ranged from 34.8 to the winning score of 42.2.
I didn't like the idea of the decimal point system at first, partly because i was one of the people who had to tot them up but i have to say, up to now there have been no two poets with the same score so perhaps it works just for that.

I will be visiting Hebden Bridge again if only to chat with some of the regulars on a more social level and to take a walk around this haven of peace and tranquility. Thankyou Hebden for a lovely welcome. :-)

A great review Janet. I wasn't there but from the description of it so wish I was.