TAVISTOCK youth polished up their public speaking skills for the annual Youth Speaks competitions at Tavistock College recently, organised by Tavistock Rotary Club.

The annual competition encourages speaking and presentation skills in young people and showcases superb quality young speakers.

The winning teams go forward to the district finals at Callington in March.

The intermediate and senior winners have the chance to go further in the regional and national finals.

Six schools entered 17 teams of three for junior, intermediate and senior competitions, with each team consisting of a chairman, a main speaker and the giver of a vote of thanks.

Competitors and audience were welcomed by Rotary Club president Tony Everitt, who also presented the certificates to all the competitors.

The Tavistock competitions were keenly fought and the judges often had a difficult task in deciding the awards.

In the junior section 10 teams took part from four schools, Mount Kelly Prep, Whitchurch, Gulworthy and Lifton. The intermediate and senior age groups had teams from Tavistock College and Mount Kelly.

The winners in the junior section were Gulworthy School with the subject 'When should the school day end?', presented by Bridie Spears and supported by Tehya Spicer and Harriet Whitworth; also Mount Kelly Preparatory school with the subject 'Should homework be banned?' presented by Imogen Shere and supported by Lamorna Wood and Emma Bowles.

In the intermediate section the two top teams were from Tavistock College.

Their subject, 'Music, Industry or Art?' was presented by Emily Handel supported by Thanae Garland Tsirka and Isobel Prout. 'Grafitti' was presented by Darcy Brown and supported by Amelia Harrison and Jessica Dent.

Mount Kelly won the senior section, with 'Ebola should not have reached the scale it has' which was presented by Richard Berryman, supported by James Davies and Ted Jenks.

These five teams go on to represent the Tavistock area in the next round of the national competition.

Tavistock Rotary Club expressed thanks to all the teams who took part for their excellent efforts, their parents and teachers who supported them, Tavistock College for hosting the competition and Ward and Chowen for sponsoring the events by printing the programmes and certificates.