2009 Judges

Mark Niel
Mark Niel is a comic poet and poetry organiser who has won poetry slams all over the UK and set up and hosts Milton Keynes’ successful poetry night Tongue in Chic.

A F Harrold
A F Harrold is a multiple slam winner and top UK performance poet, regularly appearing at poetry clubs around the UK and on various radio shows. He’s also a respected published poet with several collections to his name.

Mark Grist
Mark Grist is a Peterborough teacher, performance poet (who reached last year's UK SLAM! Championship finals) and poetry activist, and from March 2009 will also be his town's first slam master and host.

Hollie McNish
"Most of my poetry I think is better spoken, so I haven't tried to publish any written stuff. I'm just finishing an album at the moment. I really like hearing poetry spoken, and I listen to a lot more than I read. Both would be good if possible!"

Deanna Rodger
"There's nothing worse, in my opinion, than hearing a people-pleaser poem that has no root in life. I think that the ability to transfer feelings, emotion and experience, good and bad, through words is rare and precious and is what writing to perform is about."

2011 Slam Final! 10/02/2012

All 100 finalists should have now received their letters of congratulations and an invitation to the slam final, however please check out our top 50 under 18s and top 50 over 18s just in case your letter has been delayed!

This year’s slam final will take place on Saturday 21st April 2012, at The Burghley Club, Peterborough, PE1 2QA. The event will kick off with the under 18s slam starting at 3pm until 6pm, two champions will be crowned and awarded with the top prizes, laptops! The over 18s slam will start at 6:30pm until 9:30pm, with the three runners-up receiving cash prizes and the champion having the choice of a publishing contract with Bonacia Ltd or £1000!

Finalists are welcome to invite friends and family to the event but tickets must be purchased before the event because of capacity limits within the venue. Contact our customer services team on 01733 890099 or email info@poetryrivals.com to order tickets (£5 cost).

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