FARNHAM’S two Rotary clubs have again combined to offer schools and colleges the chance to take part in the national public speaking competition Youth Speaks.

The event, organised by the Rotary clubs of Farnham and Farnham Weyside, took place in the Elaine Thomas Library of the University of Creative Arts on November 25 and 26.

A record number of teams entered this year’s competition, with six schools battling it out for the intermediate title and eight in the senior category.

The intermediate competition for 11 to 13 year olds saw Isabella Gruppo, Karel Coetzee and Emily Bonnett from All Hallows Catholic School emerge victorious with an amusing talk on the subject ‘You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear’.

Isabella said afterwards: “It feels amazing to have won, the competition was really hard but I’m really proud of all the effort my team mates have put into it.”

Students from Salesian College finished second in the intermediate category with a talk on ‘Abstract Subjects versus Life Skills’.

The senior competition for 14 to 17 year olds was won by Lucy Bayliss, Alicia Frost and Joanne Carter from Amery Hill School in Alton with a clever parody on ‘gender equality’.

Lucy said they chose their topic because they “really wanted to do something that would shock the audience, but also make them really think about it”.

The senior runners-up, a team from Farnborough Hill School, also spoke on the subject of gender equality with the subject ‘There is a reason it’s history and not her-story!’.

All winners and runners-up in both the intermediate and senior categories will progress to the next round of the national competition to take place in February.

The president of the Rotary Club of Farnham, Ian Sargeant, congratulated the competing students on their decision to take part in an activity that would stand their future careers in good stead through gaining an important life skill.

And fellow Rotarian Norma Colish added: “On behalf of myself and my fellow Rotary club members I would like to say that we are very pleased so many schools participated, glad that the event went well and would like to thank the university.”