Public speakers from both primary schools and secondary schools battled it out in the Rotary Club of Douglas’s annual competition.

In the junior competition, teams from eight schools spoke on topics ranging from ’To Trump or Not To Trump’ to Scrumdiddlyumptious Authors’.

After much deliberation, Ballacottier School’s team comprising of Emma-Louise Taylor, Gabby Germishuys and Florence Leigh was announced as the winner.

Arbory School was second and Marown third.

Rotarian Howard Callow, who was one of the judges, said: ’The standard was very high with the adjudicators remarking that it was ’truly amazing’ that all the teams delivered such performances at such a young age.’

The senior competition saw teams from all of the island’s secondary schools taking part.

The teams again chose an intriguing mix of subjects including ’Lights! Camera! Action!’, ’Everybody Dies But Not Everyone Will Live’ and ’The Key Stage 3 Grading System: Does it work?’.

Mr Callow explained: ’ The high level of work and preparation was evident by all the teams and the large audience was superbly entertained by the performances delivered.’

Ballakermeen High School’s team of Charlotte Peach, Rebecca Minay and Matthew Tait was announced the winner.

The subject they chose to speak about was ’Generation Snowflake’.

Queen Elizabeth II High School, in Peel, was second and Castle Rushen High School, in Castletown, was third.

Individual prizes were awarded to Elena Hunter, Ealish Withington and Henry Davies.

Mr Callow said that it seemed that the standard of competition across the two contests was getting higher every year.

’With talented and hard working young people like these in our communities, the future for the Isle of Man looks very bright,’ he said.