Cupar and district pupils pay tribute to the Bard in annual competition
Cupar Burns Club held their annual schools competition recently in the Cupar Old Parish Church Centre.
The usual four disciplines of Verse Speaking, Singing, Instrumental and Bagpiping were contested, on the day, by 77 pupils from 10 local primary schools.
Castlehill, Ceres, Dairsie, Dunbog, Falkland, Freuchie, Letham, Newburgh, Springfield and St. Columba’s R.C. Primary Schools entered pupils who provided a full morning of entertainment for their supporters.
Club photographer, David Scott took a group photograph before the Competition Convener, David Husband, welcomed the assembly of pupils, teachers, parents, adjudicators and Burns Club members.
Also attending were representatives from our sponsors Kettle Produce and James Hair & Co. Accountants. The other sponsor, Lawrie Estate Agents were unable to send a representative on the day.
Both the hall and the lounge in the centre were required to facilitate the running of the competitions with two age groups competing in each discipline.
The M.C. duties were carried out by David Husband and Stephen Stewart. Graeme Bain, another member of the Competition sub-committee, provided door security whilst other members of the Cupar Burns Club were on hand to ensure the success of the event.
During the interval, refreshments were served by Mr & Mrs Farmer, Mrs Letham, Mrs Husband and Mrs Stewart.
Competitions do, of course, require adjudicators and this year those duties were ably carried out by Faye Stevenson & Neil McNair, who judged the Verse Speaking, Peter Thomson, who accepted the duties of judging the singing and Gavin Piper, who judged the instrumental and bagpiping entrants. Miss Shannon Stewart provided adjudicating assistance in the Lounge.
Certificates of Commendation were awarded to all competitors by Mr Bob Stewart, former convener, and advice and encouragement was offered by the adjudicators before they announced the results of the mornings competitions. Trophies were presented by Mr Graham Letham, Club President, before they were reclaimed for engraving. The trophies will be presented again at an awards ceremony to be held on March 10 in Cupar Masonic Hall, Club 19.
The adjudicated results:
Verse Speaking Solos: Primary 4/5 1st – Julia Di Falco, Dairsie P.S. (Address to a Haggis) 2nd – Evie Glover, Freuchie P.S. (A Dug, A Dug) 3rd – Emily Smith, Falkland P.S. (Address to a Haggis); Primary 6/7 1st – Albie Tucker, Ceres P.S. (Address to a Haggis) 2nd – Brae Muir, Castlehill P.S. (To a Louse) 3rd – Lucy Thomson, Dunbog P.S. (My Heart’s in the Highlands).
Singing Solos: Primary 4/5 1st - Libby Anderson, Springfield P.S. (Auld Lang Syne) 2nd – Eilidh McGhee, St Columba’s R.C.P.S. (Highland Girl) 3rd – Olivia Gibson, St. Columba’s R.C.P.S. (Heather on the Hill); Primary 6/7 1st - Aila Isabel Cox, Freuchie P.S. (The Ploughman) 2nd – Paige Birrell, Freuchie P.S. (Ye Jacobites).
Instrumental Solos: Primary 4/5 1st - Harry Goodfellow, Dunbog P.S. (Cello, Skye Boat Song) 2nd – Olive Thomson, Dunbog P.S. (Violin, Auld Lang Syne); Primary 6/7 1st – Aveline Townsend, Freuchie P.S. (Piano, Ye Banks & Braes) 2nd – Rory Davidson, Freuchie P.S. (Clarinet, Auld Lang Syne) 3rd – Ailsa Armstrong, Freuchie P.S. (Flute, medley).
Primary Bagpiping 1st - Levi Nicholson, St. Columba’s R.C.P.S. (Bag-pipes, Auld Lang Syne & 500 Miles) 2nd – Oliver Fettes-Dow, Ceres P.S. (Chanter, Castle Dangerous) 3rd – Albie Tucker, Ceres P.S. (Snare pad, Castle Dangerous).
P6/7 Best Overall: Albie Tucker, Ceres P.S. with his recitation of “Address to a Haggis”.