Public Speaking final 2020

The popular competition has been kindly sponsored for a number of years by NFU Mutual Insurance Society Limited.

The competition sought to find the best prepared public speakers among the YFCU members in Northern Ireland.

In the prepared section, competitors delivered a pre-prepared speech chosen from a specified list of topics.

The topics included: Our life in lockdown, If I could be anyone for a week, Does the media coverage promote agriculture sufficiently in today’s world?, Social media has changed us for the worst, What YFCU will look like in 90 years’ time, Money makes the world go round, Recycling should be mandatory , If I knew I couldn’t fail I would... , The world would be a better place if…, The most important lesson of my life so far, My dream holiday in 2021, Coronavirus - what living through history means to me.

The judges listened intently to over 250 speeches, and these were assessed according to platform manner, voice production and on the content and marshalling of facts. The judges were thoroughly impressed by a range of varied and entertaining speeches, thus had a difficult task due to the high standard presented.

The YFCU would like to thank the sponsor NFU Mutual Insurance Society Limited, the chairs, 42 judges and trainers who helped throughout the competition and finally the YFCU members who took part.

Results:

12-14: 3rd – Isabella Gregg, Glarryford, 2nd – Mya McCullough, Gleno Valley, 1st – Jack Orr, Kilraughts

14-16: 3rd – Lauren Taylor, Ballywalter, 2nd – Victoria Currie, Kilraughts, 1st – Stephanie Millar, Coleraine

16-18: 3rd – Emma Mills, Randalstown, 2nd – Emma Knox, Crumlin, 1st – Adam Gaston, Glarryford

18-21: 3rd – Lauren McNeill, Kilraughts, 2nd – Alex Cleland, Spa, 1st – James Currie, Kilraughts

21-25: 3rd – Kathryn Speers, Ahoghill, 2nd – Lynsay Hawkes, Seskinore, 1st – Thomas McNeill, Kilraughts

25-30: 3rd – Judith McKinley, Trillick & District, 2nd – Shannen Vance, Trillick & District, 1st – Gemma Dickey, Randalstown