Petra Kenney Poetry Competition

2007 First Prize, General Section

Caroline Gill won first prize in the General Section of the Petra Kenney Poetry Competition 2007.

The winning poem was a sestina called ‘The Figure at the Phoenix Mine’.

The prize was a cheque for £1000 and an inscribed cut-glass vase. Mario Petrucci came second and Daphne Schiller took third place in this section.

The judges were John Whitworth, Michael Schmidt, Alison Chisholm and Morgan Kenney. Caroline's award was presented by Dannie Abse and the Deputy High Commissioner for Canada, Robert Rochon.

The Petra Kenney Poetry Competition was founded by Morgan Kenney, a Canadian living in England, as a tribute to his late wife. The Honorary Patrons of the competition are Leah Fritz, Alan Brownjohn, U A Fanthorpe, Anthony Thwaite, Carole Satyamurti, Sir Alan and Lady Ayckbourn, Janie Dee, Prunella Scales and Janet Suzman.

Caroline attended an Awards Ceremony, Champagne Reception, Luncheon and Poetry Festival on 9 May 2008 at Canada House, the Canadian High Commission in Trafalgar Square.

The poem is due to appear in Writing Magazine/Writers' News.

• Enlarged photograph

Back: judges John Whitworth, Alison Chisholm and Morgan Kenney.
Front: Caroline Gill, Mario Petrucci, Daphne Schiller, Pat Borthwick, Doreen Hinchliffe and (right in front) Micheline Maylor.
Awards Ceremony, Canada House, Trafalgar Square, London.
© David Gill 2008

Dannie Abse presents the prize. Alison Chisholm looks on.
© Malcolm Chisholm 2008

Deputy High Commissioner for Canada, Robert Rochon presents the vase.
© Malcolm Chisholm 2008