ROBERT Blake students have won a rotary speaking contest at Bridgwater College.

Teams of three contestants from Chilton Trinity Technology College and Robert Blake Science College competed in the Rotary Seniors Youth Speaks contest.

The annual competition, held in the lecture theatre, was organized jointly by the rotary clubs of Bridgwater and Sedgemoor and is sponsored by Bridgwater College.

Each team had to deliver timed speeches and answer questions on a subject of their choice.

Robert Blake’s team was presented with the Derek Gibson Cup after winning with their speech on ‘How the press invade celebrities’ lives’.

Bethan Morrissey, representing Chilton Trinity, won the Rotary Endeavour Cup for Best Speaker with a speech called ‘Errors of Judgement’. Two adjudicators judged the competition; Mary Taylor, former Somerset College lecturer, and Ian Dyer, from Blackmore Farm, supported by timekeeper Rotarian Bob Gordon.

The winning members were each presented with £15 vouchers, and the runners up received £10 vouchers. Every contestant received a certificate.

Chilton Trinity go forward to the next round at the Rotary Western Area Semi-Final held at Huish Episcopi Acadamy, Langport on February 7 at 6pm. Robert Blake cannot attend due to a clash of activities.

Trophies and prizes were presented jointly by Sedgemoor Rotary Club president Jef Collingwood and Bridgwater Rotary Club president Lyndon Brett.