And the audience wasn’t disappointed! With such diverse topics as ‘Why Animals are Better Than Us’ and the ‘Superpowers of Fungi’ to ‘The Swiss Wall Ski Run’ and ‘Donald Trump’, this year’s finalists went to extraordinary lengths to find interesting and unusual topics for their speeches.

Mr Mackenzie Smith was tasked with the unenviable job of judging the 19 entries. Having listened intently and made copious notes, he gave helpful feedback to all the finalists before announcing the winning line up:

Seniors
1st and Cup Winner - Antonio: Bullfighting
2nd - Angus: Bad School Reports
3rd - Arthur: Guinness Book of Records

Juniors
1st - Monty: The ‘Real’ Last of the Mohicans
2nd - Theo: Dunkirk

Enormously well done to Antonio and all the finalists. Also a big pat on the back for all the boys in the School who researched, wrote and performed their speeches in the initial rounds and a huge round of applause to those who made it through to the semi finals and beyond. No matter whether they made it to 'the podium’ or not, demonstrating these important life skills means they were all winners!