NJDC 2004 results

Dear all,

Fifty two teams participated in the Northern Junior Debating Championship on Saturday; the tournament was BP, open to under sixteens and judged by debaters from Oxford, Birmingham, Newcastle, Durham and St Andrews.

There were three motions, breaking to a final; the motions were:
1) This House Supports the United State's doctrine of pre-emptive strikes (pre-released)
2) This House Supports the Ban on Foxhunting
3) This House believes that the government should not fund religious schools
Final: This House would censor homophobic music

The schools breaking to the final were
1) Robert Gordon's College
2) Habs Girls
3) Aberdeen Grammar School (C)
4) St Swithuns

The competition was won by Robert Gordon's and the best speaker in the final was Francesca Fletcher-Williams of Habs.

The top speakers on tab were
1) Joanne Farmer (RGC A)
2) Katherine Duncan (RGC A)
3) Constanze Bell (Leeds Girls High A)
3) Scarlett McCabe (St Swithuns A)
3) Elizabeth Bauer (Habs 1)
6) Miles Wood (AGS A)
6) Christeen Reid (Dundee High A)
6) Ciorstan Blake (AGS A)
9) Neil Dewar (Dundee High A)
9) Natalie Smith (AGS C)
9) Francesca Fletcher Williams (Habs 1)

Thanks to everyone for coming; many competitors and judges travelled an exceedingly long way, despite an actively hostile transport system. There were some very impressive debates and a host of names emerged which seem likely to be heard of many times again.

I'd particularly like to thank Sarah Jones, the chief adjudicator who played an indispensable part in keeping things running reasonably smoothly and the tab-master, Bob Nimmo who acting valiently under pressure managed to keep roughly to time despite evil fire alarms.

We would also like to thank our generous sponsors, The Leeds and Holbeck Building Society, who made a great deal possible.

We are considering options for next year.

See you all on the circuit,

Roger
Convenor, NJDC 2004