JUDGES were given the tough task earlier this month in choosing the winner of this year’s Thornbury Rotary Club Youth Speaks competition.

Open to all year five and six pupils at schools in the town and surrounding villages, the competition which focuses on the development of confidence and potential in young people, saw a total of nine schools and 73 children take part this year.

More than 70 people from the community attended the competition’s grand final on July 3, at Olveston Parish Hall to hear the finalists give talks that demonstrated their ability in public speaking, with judges Stephanie Fairhead, president of Thornbury Inner Wheel Club, Michael Neal, president of Thornbury Rotary and Marlwood head teacher James Pope hard pressed to decide a winner.

Subjects were varied between the eight speakers, with each receiving a shield, certificate and cash prize for making it to the grand final.

After an entertaining talk on Barcelona, Olveston Primary School pupil George Peacock was announced winner, receiving the Ron Nicholas Memorial Cup.

Second place went to Katie Lyons of St. Mary’s Primary School for an informative talk on smoking, with Sophie Mansbridge of St. Helen’s Primary School, Alveston, taking third place for an interesting talk on bullying.

Following the announcement, the judged said how impressed they were by all presentations made by the finalists, which demonstrated their confidence, maturity and intelligence.

For more information, visit www.thornburyrotary.org or follow Rotary on Twitter @thornburyrotary.