Christopher Tower Poetry Prizes
Encyclopedia
The Christopher Tower Poetry Prizes are annual prizes awarded to young British poets between the ages of 16 and 18, for poems submitted on a set theme. The prizes are administered by Christ Church, Oxford
, and are funded by a bequest by the late Christopher Tower. Since their launch in 2000, the prizes have become recognised as one of the United Kingdom's most prestigious poetry awards for young writers . Several past winners and runners-up have gone on to win other major poetry competitions, such as the Eric Gregory Award
, and to publish collections. The Christopher Tower Poetry Prizes are part of Tower Poetry
, an organisation that exists to encourage young people to read and write poetry
.
Past winners and runners-up:
2011
| Elizabeth Johnson
| Jack Westmore
| Abigail Richards
| James Browning, Thomas Fraser, Molly Underwood
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, and are funded by a bequest by the late Christopher Tower. Since their launch in 2000, the prizes have become recognised as one of the United Kingdom's most prestigious poetry awards for young writers . Several past winners and runners-up have gone on to win other major poetry competitions, such as the Eric Gregory Award
Eric Gregory Award
The Eric Gregory Award is given by the Society of Authors to British poets under 30 on submission. The awards are up to a sum value of £24000 annually....
, and to publish collections. The Christopher Tower Poetry Prizes are part of Tower Poetry
Tower Poetry
Tower Poetry is an organisation affiliated with Christ Church, Oxford that aims to promote the reading and writing of poetry in young people. The group is funded by a donation from the late Christopher Tower, and run by Oxford University lecturer Peter McDonald....
, an organisation that exists to encourage young people to read and write poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
.
Past winners and runners-up:
| Year | First prize | Second prize | Third prize | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Rebecca Dudley | Mairi Brewis | Felicity Marks | Eve Blair, Swithun Cooper, Charlotte Dickens, Isabella Mead |
| 2002 | Anna Lewis | Dhruv Sookhoo | Thom Glover | Christopher Edwards, Kezia Gaitskell, Holly Patterson |
| 2003 | Aruna Nair | Wing Ying Chow | Hannah Briggs | James Williams, Tim Smith-Laing, Sarah Henderson |
| 2004 | Katherine Hindley | Nancy Freeman | Laura Tisdale | Caroline Bird Caroline Bird -Life:Bird was born in 1986. She grew up in Leeds and attended the Steiner School in York and the Lady Eleanor Holles School before moving to London in 2001. She studied English Literature at Oxford University and was president of the Oxford Poetry Society... , Joanna Moorman, Helen Mort |
| 2005 | Eleanor Williams | Craig Farrell (poet) | Miranda Cichy | Francesca Beasley, Rebecca Hawkes, Shin Woo Kang |
| 2006 | Colette Sensier | Alice Malin | Alice Alexandre | David Devanny, Charlotte Geater, Julia Rampen |
| 2007 | Charlotte Runcie | Annie Katchinska | Sophie Mackintosh | Alice Howlett, Laura Marsh, Rees Arnott Davies |
| 2008 | Emily Middleton | Ashley McMullin | Nina Bahadur | Richard O’Brien, Charlotte Geater, Amelia Penny, Anna Savory |
| 2009 | Timothy Carson | Iona Twiston-Davies | Paul Merchant | Charlotte Turner, Sophie Stephenson-Wright, Emma Jourdan, Bethany Aitman |
| 2010 | Emily Harrison | Katie Woods | Megan Owens | Jamie Sutherland, Julia Goroszeniuk, Hugo Havranek |
2011
| Elizabeth Johnson
| Jack Westmore
| Abigail Richards
| James Browning, Thomas Fraser, Molly Underwood