Eisteddfod 2024: more Vale winners

Aled Llywelyn

As the National Eisteddfod appraoches its halfway stage, competitiors from the Vale of Glamorgan are enjoying even more success on the Pavilion stage.

Pupils from Ysgol Bro Morgannwg in Barry were among the winners on Tuesday, taking first place in the open vocal ensemble competiton for 3-6 members.

Ballet dancer Mairwen Thomas from Penarth, who also attends Bro Morgannwg, followed up their success by winning the Solo Dance competition for over 12s.

Competitions continued into the evening - with Côr Heol Y March taking victory in the Youth Choir competition for under 25s.

The Vale-based children's choir, conducted by Eleri Roberts, is marking its 15th anniversary this year - among its members is Leisa Roberts from Cowbridge, who also won a solo competition on stage at the weekend.

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There was disappointment in the main ceremony of the day when judges declared no winner of the Daniel Owen Memorial Prize for the first time since 2017.

Five entries were received in the competition to write a new novel - with no less than 50,000 words - for a top prize of £5,000.

But the three judges felt none of the attempts had reached the necessary high standard to win - with one judge, Catrin Beard, describing those received as "a pile of works in progress".

Jerry Hunter, in his written adjudication, said: "I know that the face that we feel that we cannot award the prize this year is disappointing for Welsh fiction readers, but let no one be discouraged."

"It seems that this competition often attracts aspiring novelists rather than experienced ones, and although past winners have managed to create a successful first novel, it's unrealistic to expect this to happen every year."

"Instead of complaining that this competition that there's no winner this year, why not go to a bookshop on the Maes – or to your local bookshop - and buy a Welsh novel that you haven't read. There's plenty of choice and we should be proud and grateful that we have so much choice."

The main ceremony of Wednesday features the Prose Medal while the Maes B gigs get underway with the opening night line-up featuring Yws Gwynedd. HMS Morris, Kim Hon, Sywel Nyw, Y Dail and Dadleoli.

Bro Radio will have a special highlights programme from the National Eisteddfod on Saturday at 4pm, with a special edition of Y Newydd focusing on the festival's gigs on Thursday at 7pm.

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