Ayrshire Association of Burns Clubs annual school competition returns

Returning to its full format for the first time since the pandemic, the event saw young people perform in a range of disciplines, including recitation, singing, instrumental and bagpiping.

Abby Lawson, Lawthorn Primary

Adana Watson, Robert Burns Academy

From P1 to S6, the quality was consistent in each of the disciplines – leaving the judges with a difficult task to identify a winner in each class from the talented competitors.

The judges included Alan Beck, president of the Burns World Federation, past president Angus Middleton, and Simon Lamb, writer-in-residence at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum – the last making his judging debut in the Ayrshire competition.

Adele McClounie, New Cumnock Primary

Aleesha Craig, New Cumnock Primary

Amber McCoy, Hayocks Primary

The competitions began after a welcome from the association’s schools convener, Beth Kerr, and association president Martin Cassidy, and once the competitive part of the event was over, Simon entertained the audience with some of his own poetry, including extracts from his new book, A Passing On Of Shells.

Beth was joined on stage by the presidents of the Ayrshire Association and the World Federation, as well as the association’s senior vice-president, Lorimer Headley, to present the trophies, medals and certificates to the winners.

Angie Leitch, Robert Burns Academy

Anna Mair, Stanley Primary

The first and second place competitors in each category will now go forward to the Robert Burns World Federation competitions for secondary and primary pupils – being held at Belmont Academy on March 25 and June 10 respectively and organised by Beth in her role as the World Federation schools convener.

A spokesperson for the association said: “It’s testament to the young people, their parents and carers and the teachers, that year on year the quality remains so high.

Arran Johnson, New Cumnock Primary

Caelyn Wood, Marr College

Cara McConville, Stewarton Academy

“The success of these days is not down to just one person, or the young people or those who support and encourage them but the many dozens of Burns enthusiasts from all over Ayrshire, from New Cumnock in the south to Skelmorlie in the north, who gave up their Saturday to judge, assist, take registration, first aid, manage the car park and all the other tasks that makes days like this smooth and successful.”

Carla Howatt, Kilmaurs Primary

Charlie Boax, Grange Academy

The results from the competition were as follows.

Primary verse speaking P1-3 (The Skilling Salver): 1 Abby Lawson, The Snawman (Lawthorn Primary); 2 Hunter Nelson, The Crocodile (Gateside Primary); 3 Imogen Barclay, Twa Leggit Mice (Dunlop Primary).

Devan Bain, New Cumnock Primary

Eilidh Dunwoodie, Ardrossan Academy

Emilie Ewer, Wellington School

Primary verse speaking, P4-5 (Largs Cronies Cup): 1 Max Campbell, To A Mouse (Glebe Primary); 2 Carla Howat, The Ballad of Janitor Mackay (Kilmaurs Primary); 3 Olivia Mai Killick, Tam O’ Shanter extract (Alloway Primary).

Primary verse speaking, P6/7 (Anne Gaw Quaich): 1 Anna Mair, Tam O’ Shanter (Stanley Primary); 2 Esha Parkhi, Willie Wastle (Alloway Primary); 3 Arran Johnson, Willie Wastle (New Cumnock Primary).

Emma Johnson, Robert Burns Academy

Eryn Long, Dalry Primary

Secondary verse speaking, S1/2 (The Rozelle Trophy): 1 Emma Johnstone, Willie Wastle (Robert Burns Academy); 2 Riley McClory, Address to a Haggis (Greenwood Academy).

Secondary verse speaking, S3/4 (Burns Federation Shield): 1 Melissa Anderson, The Rights of Woman (Greenwood Academy); 2 Adana Watson, Address to the Toothache (Robert Burns Academy).

Esha Parkhi, Alloway Primary

Evie Boax, Annanhill Primary

Hunter Nelson, Gateside Primary

Secondary verse speaking, S5/6 (Betty Herbertson Cup): 1 Angie Leitch, extract from Tam O’ Shanter (Robert Burns Academy).

Primary singing, P4/5 (Clarinda Cup): 1 Adele McClounie, Coulter’s Candy (New Cumnock Primary), 2 Eryn Long, The Deil’s Awa (Dalry Primary); 3 Lily McKinnon, The Deil’s Awa (Dalry Primary).

Imogen Barclay, Dunlop Primary

Jessica Ewer, Wellington School

Primary singing, P6/7 (Corsincon Cup): 1 Emila Ewer, Ye Banks and Braes (Wellington School); 2 Aleesha Craig, John Anderson, My Jo (New Cumnock Primary); 3 Olivia Ellis, A Man’s a Man for A’ That (Dalry Primary).

Secondary singing, S1/2 (Ayrshire Association Cup): 1 Jessica Ewer, Ca’ the Yowes (Wellington); 2 Emma Johnson, Flow Gently Sweet Afton (Robert Burns Academy).

Lily McKinnon, Dalry Primary

Max Campbell, Glebe Primary

Melissa Anderson, Greenwood Academy

Secondary singing, S3/4 (The Baird Trophy): 1 Rona Bryden, Flow Gently Sweet Afton (Loudoun Academy).

Secondary singing, S5/6 (The First Edition Cup): 1 Charlie Boax, Ca’ the Yowes (Grange Academy).

Olivia Ellis, Dalry Primary

Olivia Mai Killick, Alloway Primary

Instrumental, P6/7 (Dalry Burns Club Past Presidents’ Trophy): 1 Evie Boax, Skye Boat Song (Annanhill Primary), 2 Devan Bain, Auld Lang Syne (new Cumnock Primary); 3 Aleesha Craig, Flower of Scotland (New Cumnock Primary).

Instrumental, S5/6 (Irvine Development Corporation Trophy): 1 Charlie Boax, A Red, Red Rose (Grange Academy); 2 Cara McConville, A Red, Red Rose (Stewarton Academy).

Riley McClory, Greenwood Academy

Rona Bryden, Loudoun Academy

Primary chanter, P4-7 (The Skilling Trophy): 1 Amber McCoy, Chi Min Tomin (Hayocks Primary); 2 Lorena Brennan, Chi Min Tomin (St Anthony’s Primary); 3 Ethan Donachy, Scots Wha Hae (Gateside Primary).

Secondary bagpipes, S3/4 (Alloway Burns Club Trophy): 1 Caelyn Wood, Scottish Medley (Marr College); 2 Eilidh Dunwoodie, Prince Charles/Gairloch (Ardrossan Academy); 3 Kaya Tatar, Dundee City Police Pipe Band (Largs Academy).