Named after SVP’s co-founder, and offered in collaboration with the Canterbury Poets’ Collective, this biennial award offers publication to the best debut manuscript of a South Island poet.

The inaugural competition was judged by Elizabeth Smither, who chose My thoughts are all of swimming, by Rose Collins.

The 2024 competition was judged by Harry Ricketts, and won by not everything turns away, by Philomena Johnson.

The 2026 competition will be judged by Fiona Farrell, and opened on 1 November 2025.

Submissions close at midnight on 16th January 2026.

It is open to anyone resident in Te Waipounamu / the South Island who has not yet published a full collection of poetry – for the purposes of the competition, a “full collection” is defined as 24 pages or more. A chapbook of 24 pages or fewer is fine. (If in doubt, contact us to check.)

Entry fee is $30, and the prize is publication by Sudden Valley Press
on National Poetry Day 2026, with as much fanfare as we can muster!

Details here