YOUNGSTERS from Tavistock and Gulworthy came out on top after beating off stiff competition in the recent Rotary Youth Speaks Eastern Area Semi-final.

The national public speaking competition saw 22 teams in three categories — juniors, seven to 10, Intermediates, 11 to 13, and seniors, 14 to 17 — battle it out to go through to the district finals. The teams had already won through their local club competition to make it to the semi-final for the east of Cornwall and West Devon, including Plymouth, held at Callington Community College and organised by Callington Rotary Club.

Gulworthy Primary School was crowned the winner out of 12 teams in the junior section with its subject 'Should back to school adverts be in shops in July?' by chairman Erin Bolding, speaker Tegan Hughes and giver of the vote of thanks Olly Sampson.

Success was running in the family for the intermediate competition as Tavistock College team, and siblings of the junior winners, speaker Molly Bolding, vote of thanks Emma Sampson and chair Elysia Hix triumphed over the three other teams in their category with their speech 'From cows to coins to credit cards and beyond'.

In the senior section the Tavistock College A team came out on top out of six teams with the subject 'Genetic medicine' by chairman Flo Rodgers, speaker Joe Way and vote of thanks Jed Coiley.

The winning teams were presented with certificates and trophies by Callington Rotary president Rick Lumley.

Organiser of the semi-final event Nigel Smith said: 'It is getting more and more popular and the standard gets better every year. It was a very high standard this year with judging taking a long time to split the teams. There were a lot of spectators with more than 120 people in the hall watching the juniors.'

The winning teams will now go on to the District Finals (Cornwall and East Devon). The senior and intermediate teams will compete at Bodmin College on March 2, and the juniors will compete at the Rotary District Conference at Tregenna Hotel, St Ives on March 9. The winning intermediate and senior teams will go on to the regional final (South West) and then the national final.