The Garnock Valley Cluster School Poetry competition, sponsored by Barrmill Jolly Beggars Burns Club, was held in Beith Primary School on Tuesday March 25 with Mr Gardiner McLachlan (Irvine Burns Club) and Mr Iain McLaren (Kilwinning Burns Club) acting as judges.

The event was organised and co-ordinated on behalf of the cluster schools by DHT Mrs C Logan, assisted by Mrs Lynn McGowan of Gateside Primary School.

P3-4 boys (14 competitors). 1st Logan Aikman (A Dug a Dug); 2nd Leo Bingham Pratt (Jenny Wi’ the Mumps) and 3rd Callum McGinley (Willie Wastle). Primary 3-4 girls (14 competitors). 1st Leah Paterson (Willie Wastle), 2nd Fleur McGee (A Dug a Dug), 3rd Iona Shanks (Jenny Wi’ the Mumps), Highly commended was Laura Shaw (To a Mouse).

P5-7 boys (14 competitors): 1st Lawson Duff (Address to a Haggis); 2nd equal Thomas Hamilton (Willie Wastle) and Daniel Devaney (Address to a Haggis); 3rd Travis Campbell (Tam o’ Shanter).

P5-7 girls (14 competitors): 1st Marianne Lowey (Scots Wha Hae); 2nd Eva Bingham Pratt (Tam o’ Shanter); 3rd Morven Ritchie (Address to a Haggis) and 4th equal Stella Roschiau (Address to the Toothache) and Emily Sweeney (To a Louse).

The standard of competition was very high indeed giving the judges a very difficult time. All the participants were commended for their excellent poetic delivery. A vote of thanks was given at the end by the Herald’s Donald L Reid, thanking all the children for making a memorable day of top class poetry reading which was of a very high standard. A special word of thanks was given to Beith PS Catering Department for supplying meals for the judges and sponsors.