JOHN McGIVERING POETRY COMPETITION 2025: WINNING POEMS
(please note change of publication date to October 1st)
First Prize £350 The Sea-Wife by Estelle Price
Second Prize £100 Dangerous Writing by John Gallas
Joint Third Prize £50 each In the Wake of Courage by Gail Lawler & Consequences by Ray Beck
HIGHLY COMMENDED
An American Admiral to England by Jakob Savage
The Cherry-Knocker by Michael Henry
The Loss of the H.M.S. Tweed by Denise Bennett
YOUNGER WRITERS
There were no entries from younger writers this year.
The four winning poems will be published, together with the judges’ comments, on 1st October 2025 , both in Kipling Journal 402 and on the Kipling Society’s website.
The three Highly Commended poems and judges’ comments will likewise appear on the KS website on 1st Ovt 2025.
2024
"Food & Drink"
Winner
Stef Downham - story ‘A Cup of Chai’
Runner-up
Nick Meo - story ‘Dinner with the Enemy’
2023
"War"
Highly Commended
Clare Bevan -'The Nurse's Tale'
Victoria Pickup -'Forever Young'
Olga Dermott -'Calling Them Home'
Derek Sellen -'Attrition'
Winner
Molly Underwood - sonnet 'Zone Rouge'
Joint Runners-up
John Gallas - sonnet 'After Loos'
Lisette Abrahams - sonnet 'Sardine Tins at Beaumont-Hamel'
Third Prize
Michael Henry - poem 'The Young Veteran'
Young Writers' Joint Winners
Chloe Menton - poem 'Death's Curse'
Alexandra Flaherty - poem 'The Train'
Runner-up
Marley van Wyke - poem 'Fading Battle'
2022
"Animals"
Joint Winners
Steve Wade - story ‘The Eagle and the Wolf’ KJ393 p23
Satterday Shaw - story 'Hidden Dragon' KJ393 p28
Runner-up
Mary Seymour - story ‘Little Brother’ KJ393 p32
Highly Commended
Rory Kirby (Afghan Donkey). A. McVeigh (Topaz, the Cat at No.21). Carla King (The Cat That Walked)
Young Writers' Winner
Evelyn C. Carpenter - story ‘Parugan’ KJ393 p35
Highly Commended
Abigail Randall (Ms Gibbons). Benjamin Shpilman (Papaya)
2021
"Travel"
Joint Winners
Peter Sutton - poem ‘Shipping Out’
Siobhan Flynn - poem '(Almost) Sestina of the Seasoned Traveller'
Runner-up
John Gallas - poem ‘The Yellow-Blinded Fale’
Highly Commended
Hadyn John Adams (Chinaperson Messages). Jonathan Campbell (A Scottish Lament). Verity Crosswell (Humans). Carol Gilfillan (A Tale from the Plain). Gabriele Griffin (Having Good Time). Candy Neubert (Immigrant). Marjory Woodfield (I Walk before Noon).