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Winner English poem Rosie Jackson
From Left to right -
Keith Wood Commended Scots Poem, Heather Gough organiser, Gerda Stevenson Judge, Cicely Gill organiser & Shane Strachan Winner Scots Poem at the Poetry Prize Gig Night Sept 26
Commended English Poem Petra Regent
The McLellan Poetry Prize is now in its 18th year and is awarded by
the Arran Theatre and Arts Trust.
We would like to extend our grateful thanks to Gerda Stevenson for her hard work in selecting the winning entries in this year's competitions, and to all the writers who took the time to enter and to trust us with their words and work and here are the results for 2026
Scots Poem winner
Shane Strachan, Aberdeen for 'Teem'
Commended
Keith Wood, Edinburgh for 'Sad Heicht'
English Poem winner
Rosie Jackson, Devon for 'Easter Day'
Commended
Petra Regent, Bristol for 'Fungus'
Scroll down for more information about this years winners and to read their poems.
Past judges have included Kathleen Jamie, Robert Crawford, Jackie Kay, Peter and Ann Sansom, Michael Laskey, Simon Armitage, David Constantine, Maura Dooley and Sinead Morrissey, Luke Wright, Hollie McNish, Joelle Taylor, Jim Mckintosh, William Letford and Jim Carruth.
Previous Years Winners
First Prize Winner - 2025 McLellan Scottish Poetry Competition Criag Aitchison
First Prize Winner - 2025 McLellan English Poetry Competition
Cait O'Neill McCullagh
Judge Sean O'Brien with the many of the 2019 Winners and the Competition Organisers at the Prize Giving on Arran.
(from the right: Cicely Gill, Organiser; Sean O'Brien, Competition Judge; Jane Kinton, 3rd Prize; Kitty Donnelly, Commended; Pamela Brough, 1st Prize; James Caruth, Commended & David Underdown, Organiser.)
2018 winner Char March recorded her entry in Scots and English
Maura Dooley presents 1st Prize to 2017 winner Louise Greig
Jed Myers receiving 1st Prize from
David Constantine in 2016
John Foggin receiving 1st Prize from
Simon Armitage in 2015
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