The organisers of the Welsh Poetry Competition 2010 announced the winners at a prize-giving evening in Clwb-Y-Bont in Pontypridd, this week.

The first prize winner was acclaimed crime and mystery thriller writer – Sally Spedding (pictured, with John Evans). Born in Porthcawl, her novels and short stories have won many awards and been widely published.

Welsh writer and activist John Evans was the judge, and wrote of Sally’s poem - ‘Litzmannstadt 1941’: “Excellently written. A narrative poem whose shifts and turns propel the reader through an episode of one of humankind’s darkest eras. Lyrical, emotive, inventive, and bursting with imagery.”

The second prize was taken by Nigel Ormond with his poem ‘Izzy’, and third by Jane Fox with ‘Waiting’.

John also chose another seventeen poems for the ‘specially commended’ section – which included Write Out Loud Member – Steve Garside; as well as a one-off prize for 13-year old Jeno Davies. You can view this year’s winning poems on the competition website, where you can also find details of next year’s competition.

Please go to: www.welshpoetry.co.uk