VER POETS OPEN COMPETITION 2026
Adjudicator: Vanessa Lampert Short-listed poems published in The Ver Prize 2026 anthology
Congratulations to the winners Elsa Braekken Payne, Thea Smiley and Natalie Ann Holborrow, and all those selected. Also thank you to everyone who submitted their poems or supported the competition.
The winners and selected poets will be sent a free copy of the anthology and will be invited to read their poems in the Zoom prize-giving event at 2.00 pm on Saturday 11th July, when the judge, Vanessa Lampert, will present her adjudication report and read some of her own poems. Everyone included in the anthology, and all Ver Poets members, will be sent a link to the event.
If you wish to order a copy of the anthology, click here.
To enquire about Ver Poets membership, click here.
These are the results of the competition:
FIRST PRIZE: That Boy Elsa Braekken Payne
SECOND PRIZE: She Watches for the First Swallow Thea Smiley
THIRD PRIZE: Listening In Natalie Ann Holborow
Highly Commended:
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Incident at the Destinations Board Terry Jones
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March day, Keswick Diane Granger
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A Personal Elysium Stephen Boyce
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Brian Beda Higgins
Commended:
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The Cusp Christopher James
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My father kept galaxies on a shelf A C Clarke
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Lisboa Nicola Alison
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Le Bourlingeur Ian Heffernan
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The Letters Malcom Carson
Selected:
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No call Adrian Buckner
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Meniscus Rolf Hind
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Spindle City Yvonne Salmon
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Garlic Bex Hainsworth
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Ardnamurchan Derek Matthew Brown
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Shoal Vivienne Tregenza
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Toni Lucy Heuschen
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We must meet up Alison Allen
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Let Me Tell You How I Learnt About Grief Mary Gilonne
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Bridesmaid Anna Mindel Crawford
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Beetroot Michael Brown
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Highland Rain Howard Wright
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The Formalities Howard Wright
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Dunnock Joan Baxter
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Reel to Reel David Jones
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Chime Michael Brown
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Mammogram Suzanna Fitzpatrick