Llanelli Rotary's Youth Speaks event a big success

Political correctness, fears of mass corruption in the Establishment, the gap between rich and poor, sports role models, the Olympic legacy and multiculturalism.
These were among the topics debated in the annual Llanelli Rotary Club Youth Speaks competition held at Llanelli Town Hall.
“The quality of the arguments presented was outstanding and the children taking part reflected great credit on their schools and families,” said the chairman of the judging panel Lt Colonel David Mathias. “All the competitors were a great credit to their families and their schools.”
The competition saw the teams from St John Lloyd and Bryngwyn take the senior and intermediate prizes to progress to the next round of the Rotary competition – a zone area final.
The Youth Speaks competition is organised on a national basis and it is possible for the teams to win through to a UK final.
Lt Col Mathias said: “The standard in the competition was exceptionally high and the competitors made the judging task a very difficult one, so much so that there was a tie for one of the prizes.
Llanelli Rotary Club president Alan Owen explained that the Youth Speaks event offered an opportunity for Llanelli pupils to gain experience of speaking on a public platform.
He said: “It allows young people to form ideas on significant subjects and learn high standards of expression, presentation and appearance. It also gives pupils the experience of accepting impartial assessments and constructive criticism.”
The competition was run to a national Rotary format which included a question from the floor. The main speaker for each team faced the daunting task of fielding an unrehearsed question from Rotarian Past President JC Williams MBE.
Llanelli Rotary President Mr Owen added: “The youngsters coped admirably with the questions, not an easy task in front of a large audience at the Town Hall.”
Results –
Best Intermediate Team – St John Lloyd (who debated The Olympic Legacy. This generation is inspired, so what’s next?)
Best Chair – Bronte Reynolds, Brynwgyn.
Best Speaker – James McMillan, St John Lloyd.
Best Proposer of Vote of Thanks – Stephen Hughes, Bryngwyn.
Best Senior Team – Brynwgyn (who debated The growing gap between rich and poor).
Best Chair – Zoe Bonnell, Bryngwyn.
Best Speaker – Shared by Lucy Havard, Bryngwyn, and Sion Davies, St John Lloyd.
Best Proposer of Vote of Thanks – Ryan Davies, Brynwgyn. 
The judging panel was – Lt Colonel David Mathias DL (chair), Ann Brace, retired teacher from Tregib School, Llandeilo, and retired QE High Carmarthen headmaster Tim Day.
The MC for the evening was Rotarian Past President Robert Lloyd. The event was organised by a team led by Rotarian Mark Evans. Prizes were handed out by Llanelli Rotary Club President Alan Owen.
Picture slideshow below shows winners with Llanelli Rotary Club President Alan Owen.

Tegan is the winner of Llanelli Young Chef competition

Brynwgyn Comprehensive School pupil Tegan Andrews was the winner of the first ever Young Chef competition to be staged by Llanelli Rotary Club.

Tegan Andrews, 13, scooped the prize with her three course menu of Welsh leek and sweet potato soup; sugar crusted lamb; raspberry and Caerphilly chocolate pots.

She is pictured above being presented with her prizes, a shield, certificate and an autographed Simon Wright book, by Llanelli Rotary Club president Alan Owen.

The event was part of a national competition which offers a host of prizes, including a trip to Tuscany, a day’s tuition with a Michelin-star chef in the UK and a cash prize.
One of the organisers of the Llanelli heat of the competition was Rotarian Alison Evans.
She said: "Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland believes it is highly important to encourage and develop creativity in young people, and this includes creativity in the kitchen.
"Cooking among young people is a growing interest and a valuable life skill. Schools seem to agree and hence the RIBI Young Chef competition, in association with Filippo Berio, moves forward from strength to strength each year producing some superb quality cooking from our young people aged from 11 to 17."

Judges of the Llanelli competition were -

Anna Brown, celebrity chef and Llanelli Star columnist; Simon Wright, Welsh food champion, broadcaster, author and food critic; Stewart Williams, executive Head Chef at the Stradey Park Hotel and lecturer.

The competition was open to students aged 11 to 17 years.

The challenge was to prepare a three-course meal for two people in two hours, with a budget of £15. 

Rotarain Mark Evans, one of the co-organisers of the event, said: "The standard was quite exceptional and the judges were full of praise for the effort, ambition and creative ingenuity of the young chefs.

"Our grateful thanks got to Bryngwyn School for hosting the event, in particular Sarah Lewis, food technology, and the headteacher Paul Jones."

The runner-up in the competition was Elyse Mowbray, 14, Bryngwyn School, who served up leek and potato soup; rolled chicken with Welsh cheese, spinach and sweet potato; poached pears in Welsh honey.

Other contestants were - 

Josh Davies, 13, Bryngwyn School - tomato and basil soup; balsamic lamb with a pea purse; baked raspberry cheesecake.
Maris May Latham, 16, St John Lloyd School - asparagus wrapped in parma ham; vegetable curry; mini pavlovas.
Chloe Pride-Aylott, 12, Bryngwyn School -cheese and tomato bruschetta, salad and balsamic glaze; vegetable pot pies with home-made chips and mayonnaise; raspberry and white chocolate cheescake, fruit and raspberry sauce.
Ewa Topor, 14, Brynwgyn School - potato pancakes with strawberry jam and yoghurt; pierogi, soft dough with white cheese with vegetable salad; strawberries in jelly with cream and chocolate on top.
R.I.B.I.Young Chef is designed to encourage young people to:
· Develop cookery skills
· Develop food presentation skills
· Consider healthy eating options and food hygiene issues
· Prove their organisational and planning skills
· Prove their ability to cope in a demanding situation.

The MC for the evening was Llanelli Rotary Club past president Robert Lloyd.
Winner Tegan Andrews now goes forward to a Rotary District final to be staged in Builth Wells in March.

Competitors pictured with Llanelli Rotary Club president Alan Owen - (left to right) Tegan Andrews, Josh Davies, Ewa Topor, Chloe Pride-Aylott, Maris May Latham and Elyse Mowbray.

Runner-up: Elyse Mowbray pictured with Llanelli Rotary Club President Alan Owen.

Weblinks -
www.llanellirotary.com
http://www.ribi.org/youth/competitions/ribi-young-chef

More photos -