TWO 'Youth Speaks' teams from Tavistock College won their sections at the district finals in Truro, earning them a place in the regional finals this weekend at Marjons in Plymouth.
The intermediate and senior teams beat all the Cornish teams to come top in the Cornwall and West Devon district of the Rotary Club competition and will go on to compete against seven teams from as far afield as the Channel Islands and Somerset .
Winners in the senior category, Josh Stephens, George Rodgers and Charlie Hubbard, gave a polished display of public speaking, debating the challenge of the virtual world versus the real world.
Winning against tough opponents in the intermediate section, the team of Florence Rodgers, Joe Way and Jed Coiley gave a thought-provoking talk on optimism and pessimism.
Third place in the senior section was awarded to Tom Rodgers, Jack Shepherd and Adam Browner, who bravely mixed insight with humour, talking on the likelihood of alien life forms.
Alan Jones, district governor for Rotary International, who presented the awards to the winning teams, said of the Tavistock College performance 'standards were outstanding; the topics were both enlightening and entertaining, and the students' smart appearance topped a professional display.'