Wellington College retain the WSU Trophy in 2012
The 2012 Russell McVeagh Wellington Regional Debating Championships were held on Saturday 31 March and Sunday 1 April at Wellington College. Twenty teams participated from 17 schools.
Round 1 of the tournament on Saturday was a prepared debate on whether internet activism should be deplored. Limited preparation debates on introducing a maximum wage, legalising marjuana, and the social merit of beauty pagaents were the other topics on day one.
Teams came back the following morning to debate in round 5, a limited preparation debate on whether individuals should choose to be vegetarian on ethical grounds.
After five rounds, Wellington College 1 was unbeaten on five wins from five, and so went through to the semi-finals in first place. Two teams were on four wins each with one loss – Queen Margaret College and Hutt Valley High School, separated on speaker points. Eight teams were tied on 3 wins each. Ultimately, Wellington High School went through to the semi-finals in fourth place.
In the semi-finals, on the motion “This House would make voting compulsory”, Wellington College 1 defeated Wellington High School, and Queen Margaret defeated Hutt Valley High.
The Grand Final was on the motion “This House supports the use death penalty as a punishment for the most horrific crimes” in front of a very good crowd. On home soil, Wellington College were declared the victors in an unanimous decision, retaining the title it won for the first time in 2011.
Winners (Wellington College)
Oscar Shaw
Thomas Leggat
Edward Foley
Runners-Up (Queen Margaret College)
Jessica Pailaret
Ashna Basu
Allanah Avalon
Promising Speaker
Carrick Nisbet (Rongotai College)
Most Promising Speaker: Jack Garden (Wellington College 2)
Highly Commended Speakers
Grace Jansen (St Catherine’s College)
Oliver Pooke (Hutt International Boys’ School)
Maddy Nash (Sacred Heart College)
Merinda Jackson (Wellington High School)
Wellington Regional Squad 2012 (six to compete at National Champs in two teams)
Thomas Leggat (Wellington College)
Ashna Basu (Queen Margaret College)
Edward Foley (Wellington College)
Michael Moore-Jones (Scots College)
Jack Garden (Wellington College)
Jemima Lomax-Sawyers (St Mary’s College)
Oscar Shaw (Wellington College)
Lauren Thompson (Wellington High School)
Best Speaker at Wellington Regionals 2012: Ashna Basu (Queen Margaret College)
Thanks
Thank you to Wellington College for hosting the Championships, and to all of the excellent adjudicators who gave up their time: Christopher Bishop, Desley Horton, Jenna Raeburn, Seb Templeton, Jodie O’Neill, Daniel Wilson, Clodagh O’Connor-McKenna, Ella Edginton, Yogesh Patel, Aric Shakur, and Nick Cross.
Stephen Whittington and Duncan McLachlan
Regional Convenors 2012