THE winner of this year’s Charles Causley International Poetry Competition has been announced.

The winning poem was ‘The Load’ by Jack Thacker, from Bristol. As first prize winner, Jack will get to spend a week long residency at Cyprus Well in Launceston — the former home of poet Charles Causley.

The Charles Causley Trust was delighted that this year’s entries to the poetry competition came from a diverse range of poets, both established and emerging.

They noted a considerable increase in the number of international entries, and the panel of shortlisting judges — Dr Kym Martindale, Dr Luke Thompson and writer-in-residence at Cyprus Well Charlotte Walker — spent a day at Mr Causley’s house reading and discussing the poems before selecting a shortlist to send to head judge Sir Andrew Motion.

The trust has said it is looking forward to welcoming first prize winner Mr Thacker to Cyprus Well for his week long residency opportunity to work on his writing and explore North Cornwall.

Awarded second and third place were ‘The Year You Turned Into a Fish’ by Joanne Key from Cheshire and ‘Walk a Mile/Stepping Out’ by Liz Breslin from New Zealand.

The trust also selected five ‘highly commended’ poets to receive mentoring from a Cyprus Well writer in residence and a small cash prize in recognition of their talents, they are; ‘A Gap in the Field’ by Victor Tapner, ‘Portrait of Us as Snow White’ by Theresa Awonuga, ‘Le Nez’ by Jill Munro, ‘A Romp in Brompton Cemetery’ by Tony D’Arpino and ‘The Earth of Cumberland is my Earth’ by Kerry Darbyshire.

Chair of the judges Sir Andrew Motion said: “Making my final decision about the poetry prize, I wanted to balance my admiration for risk and the spirit of adventure with my liking for poems that obey their own laws or organisation. I felt ‘The Load’ managed to get the best of both these worlds, and in the process to achieve something at once clear and suggestive.”

This year marks Charles Causley’s centenary year and August 24, 2017 will mark 100 years since the poet’s birth.

There is a wealth of celebratory events and activities planned to commemorate his life and work and also to encourage the continued appreciation and creation of poetry and literature.

Further information about the centenary plans is available from the trust.

The winning poems are available to read on the Charles Causley Trust’s website www.thecharlescausleytrust.org