Judged by Fiona Benson, Matthew Hollis, and Dr Anna Nickerson, over 1,400 submissions were received and carefully narrowed down to just 13 prizewinners. With a first prize of £5,000, a second prize of £3,000, a third prize of £1,500, and ten ‘Commended’ awards of £500 each, the total prize money amounted to more than £14,000.

Dr Anna Nickerson said: ‘This year’s theme – “A Riddle” – gave young poets an opportunity to experiment with one of the oldest forms of poetry in the English language. Riddles might be slight, but they require dexterity; we were looking for poems that skilfully combined the simple with the strange to achieve what Aristotle thought was the distinctive accomplishment of the riddle – the expression of “true facts under impossible conditions”. The best poems did just that, and we congratulate the winners.’

Winners and their guests were invited to Christ Church to celebrate on 22 April, joined by members of the Tower Family. All 13 poets read their poems, as Fiona Benson and Matthew Hollis announced the winners, with the Dean of Christ Church presenting certificates.

First Prize

Application, Zeba Padinjare, Anglo European School

Second Prize

Autism in girls, Isobel Glover, Chenderit School

Third Prize

Riddle me, Joshua Lynch, Blackfen School for Girls Sixth Form.

This year's other winners are listed here.