New Zealand Schools’ Debating

Break position / Team name / Wins / Judges / collective team scores

1. Australia – 8 – 23 – 6277
2. Canada – 8 – 22 – 6171
3. Singapore – 8 – 22 – 6161
4. Greece – 8 – 22 – 6105
5. England – 8 – 20 – 6188.5
6. Slovenia – 7 – 19 – 6016.5
7. New Zealand – 6 – 19 – 6189.5
8. Wales – 6 – 19 – 6080.5
9. Israel – 6 – 18 – 6012
10. Netherlands – 6 – 18 – 5961
11. Sri Lanka – 6 – 17 – 6047.5
12. India – 6 – 16 – 5982.5
13. Pakistan – 5 – 18 – 6114.5
14. Scotland – 5 – 17 – 6163
15. Ireland – 5 – 16 – 6093.5
16. Hong Kong – 5 – 16 – 6074.5

OCTO-FINAL DRAW

Australia v Hong Kong
Canada v Ireland
Singapore v Scotland
Greece v Pakistan
England v India
Slovenia v Sri Lanka
New Zealand v Netherlands
Wales v Israel

Note that while NZ are on 6 from 8, one loss was to Israel in a very close debate, and the other to Australia who are at the top of the tab. They are also second on speaker points. So very good results overall. Congratulations to the team.

Octo-finals are tomorrow afternoon.

In Round Seven this morning New Zealand (Josh, Aria, Jasmin) beat Nigeria 3-0, opposing “That terrorist suspects should be tried in civilian courts”.

In Round Eight this afternoon New Zealand (Nick, Maria, Aria) lost to Australia by 3-0, proposing “That we should legalise performance enhancing drugs in sport”.

New Zealand therefore finishes on 6 wins and 19 judges.

There are five teams on eight wins: Australia, Greece, Singapore, England and Canada. New Zealand will definitely break, likely somewhere between position 8 and 14.

Break will be announced later tonight. I will endeavour to get someone back in NZ to update the site with where NZ breaks and who they will be against in the octo-finals tomorrow.

In Round Five this morning, New Zealand (Nick, Maria, Aria) defeated the United Arab Emirates by 3-0, opposing “That doctors should report evidence of marital abuse to the police”.

In Round Six this afternoon New Zealand took its first loss of the tournament (and first at WSDC since the Grand Final in Washington in September 2008!). New Zealand (Nick, Maria, Jasmin) proposed the motion “That developing countries should have the right to prioritise economic development over the environment” against Israel, but lost in a 1-2 split.

After six rounds New Zealand is on 5 wins and 1 loss, having taken 16 judges out of 18.

Rounds 7 and 8 are tomorrow. In Round 7, New Zealand faces Nigeria, opposing “That terrorist suspects should be tried in civilian courts”. In Round 8 New Zealand is opposing against Australia on an impromptu motion”.

Shamelessly stolen from Jasmin’s Facebook…

The falcon is the official logo/mascot/animal of WSDC 2010…

Yesterday was a rest day at WSDC 2010. The teams, coaches and judges went on a “Desert Safari” in the Qatari desert outside of Doha. A convoy of 4WDs dropped us at a camp in the desert where there was food, drinks, dancing, volleyball, table-tennis, and a variety of other activities.

Today there are tours of Doha to places such as the famous Islamic Art Museuem.

Debating kicks off again tomorrow with founds 5 and 6. In Round 5, New Zealand is against United Arab Emirates, opposing “That doctors should report all evidence of marital abuse to the police”. In Round 6, New Zealand is proposing on an impromptu motion.

In Round Three, New Zealand (Josh, Aria and Jasmin) defeated Romania by 3-0, proposing “That all states have the right to have nuclear weapons”.

In Round Four, New Zealand (Nick, Maria, and Josh) defeated USA by 3-0, opposing ”This House supports quotas for women in high government positions”.

New Zealand is on 4/4 wins and taken 12/12 judges.

This afternoon Nick, Maria and Jasmin beat Estonia by 3-0, opposing the motion “This House supports compulsory physical education in schools”.

New Zealand is therefore on two wins and six from six judges.

Tomorrow morning Josh, Aria and Jasmin take on Romania, proposing “That all nations have a right to nuclear weapons”. In the afternoon the team is against the United States on an impromptu motion.

New Zealand won against Slovakia in a 3-0 decision, affirming the motion “That we should support military intervention in Somalia”. Josh, Maria and Aria debated.

The 2010 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team, along with New Zealand’s adjudicators and supporters, have arrived in Doha. The tournament kicks off tonight with a formal dinner.

Tomorrow is dedicated to adjudicator training while the teams tour Doha.

Rounds 1 and 2 are on Wednesday February 10. In R1 New Zealand are against Estonia on a prepared motion, proposing “That we should support military intervention in Somalia”. In R2 New Zealand are negating against Slovakia on an impromptu topic.

Doha is ten hours behind New Zealand. We expect round 1 will finish around 10pm New Zealand time on that day. Round 2 will finish around 4pm, which is around 2am NZ time the following day (Thursday).

The Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools Debating Team leaves on Friday for the 2010 World Schools’ Debating Champs in Doha, Qatar.

New Zealand is the reigning World Schools Debating Champions after winning the title in Athens, Greece, last February.

The team consists of Maria English (Captain, Samuel Marsden Collegiate School), Nick Cross (Scots College), Aria Newfield (St Cuthbert’s College), Josh Baxter (Auckland Grammar School) and Jasmin Moran (Chilton St James School).

The team is coached by Clodagh O’Connor-McKenna and will be accompanied by adjudicators Kevin Moar, Christopher Bishop, Claire Ryan, and Rosemary Dixon.

The draw for the tournament was released yesterday:

Round 1 (prepared): “That we should support military intervention in Somalia”
New Zealand v Slovakia

Round 2 (impromptu)
Estonia v New Zealand

Round 3 (prepared): “That every country should have the right to possess nuclear weapons”
New Zealand v Romania

Round 4 (impromptu)
United States v New Zealand

Round 5 (prepared): “That doctors should report evidence of marital abuse to the police”
United Arab Emirates v New Zealand

Round 6 (impromptu)
New Zealand v Israel

Round 7 (prepared): “That terrorist suspects should have a right to a trial in civilian courts”
Nigeria v New Zealand

Round 8 (impromptu)
New Zealand v Australia

Results of each debate will be posted here during the tournament. The first round is on Tuesday February 9.  Wednesday February 10.