The History of the National Poetry Competition

The National Poetry Competition has been one of Britain's top single poem competitions since 1978. It is judged anonymously by a new set of judges each year. The top prize is £5000, second prize £1000, third prize £500 and there are 10 commendations of £50. You can read the poems of all of the past winners and find out more information below .

Christopher James (2008): 'Farewell to the Earth'

Sinéad Morrissey (2007): 'Through the Square Window' 

Mike Barlow (2006): 'The Third Wife'

Melanie Drane (2005): 'The Year the Rice-Crop Failed'

Jon Sait (2004): 'Homeland'

Colette Bryce (2003): 'The Full Indian Rope Trick'

Julia Copus (2002): 'Breaking the Rule'

Beatrice Garland  (2001): 'undressing'

Ian Duhig  (2000): 'The Lammas Hireling'

Simon Rae (1999): 'Believed'

Caroline Carver (1998): 'horse underwater'

Neil Rollinson (1997): 'Constellations'

Ruth Padel  (1996): 'Icicles Round a Tree in Dumfriesshire'

James Harpur (1995): 'The Frame of Furnace Light'

David Hart (1994): 'The Silkies'

Sam Gardiner (1993): 'Protestant Windows'

Stephen Knight (1992): 'The Mermaid Tank'

Jo Shapcott (1991): 'Phrase Book'

John Levett (1991): 'A Shrunken Head'

Nicky Rice (1990): 'Room Service'

William Scammell (1989): 'A World Elsewhere'

Martin Reed (1988): 'The Widow's Dream'

Ian Duhig (1987): 'Nineteen Hundred and Nineteen'

Carole Satyamurti (1986): 'Between the Lines'

Jo Shapcott (1985): The Surrealists' Summer Convention Came to Our City

Tony Curtis (1984): 'The Death of Richard Beattie-Seaman in Belgian Grand Prix, 1939'

Carol Ann Duffy (1983): 'Whoever She Was'

Philip Gross (1982): 'The Ice Factory'

James Berry  (1981): 'Fantasy of an African Boy'

Tony Harrison  (1980): 'Timer'

Medbh McGuckian (1979): 'The Flitting'

Michael Hulse (1978): 'Dole Queue'