The fifth Ripon Poetry Festival came to a close yesterday after four days of readings, performances, workshops and book unveilings at venues across the city.

Among the highlights were the launches, at a packed Ripon Arts Hub operatic hall, of two anthologies containing the works of children and adults who entered the festival poetry competition.

Festival curator Andy Croft told the Stray Ferret:

“There was a record 260 entries from children and adults this year and the standard of writing was so high that the judges found it difficult to decide which of the poems to select for inclusion in each of the books.

“We published the children’s anthology for the first time this year and it was delightful to hear them reading out their work.

“One little girl, who was too small to reach the microphone, went on stage holding her mum’s hand and delivered her poem like a seasoned professional.”

In the children’s category, the under 11 winner was Merry Reeves, while the 11 to 18 prize was awarded to Beatrice Harrison.

A moving poem titled Three-legged Dog by Simon Strickland, which featured the impact of a colliery’s closure on a mining community, was selected as the best poem in the category for adults.

Ripon Poetry Festival curator Andy Croft

First-time competition entrant Nicky Hasson achieved a remarkable treble when three of her poems were selected for publication in the adult anthology and there was double delight when her daughter Jess, a third-year student studying English literature and creative writing at Lancaster University, also had her poem selected for inclusion.

Nicky said:

“I was amazed because I only started writing poetry in November and I certainly wasn’t expecting this. I was also delighted for Jess.”

The festival, which is the largest of its kind in Yorkshire, featured the published works of well-known poets Linda France, Helen Mort, Tara Bergin, Henry Raby and Jim Greenhalf, alongside amateur wordsmiths who write for pleasure.