Congratulations to the 9 participants in the school’s inaugural S1 Burns Poetry Recitation Competition. Iona Orr, Abby Cockburn and Emily Lang recited for Curran House. Rachel Lees, Rebecca Finlayson and Megan Young were Sneddon’s champions. Cara Sinnett, Ellie Docherty and Simone Ward represented Houldsworth House.

All of the pupils recited Burns poems or extracts from poems to a packed theatre and to judges, Mr Sommerville and Mrs Elizabeth Totten, President of the local Allanton Jolly Beggars Burns Club.

The standard was outstanding, with Cara Sinnett declared the overall winner with her wonderful rendition of the sardonic verse ‘To a Louse’. Cara and team-mates, Ellie and Simone captured first place for Houldsworth and the important 3 points for first place. Iona, Abby and Emily took the 2 points for Curran House. Rachel, Rebecca and Megan were a close third and took 1 point for Sneddon House.

The school would like to thank Mrs Totten for generously giving up her time to support this new event in the Inter House calendar.

Mrs Elizabeth Totten (centre) with the S1 Inter House Burns presenters.

 Cara was delighted to receive her Certificate of Excellence and winner’s prize of an anthology of the work of Robert Burns.

Cara Sinnett proudly holds her prize for winning the recent Burns Recitation Competition.