Dumfries and Galloway pupils among the winners at National Schools Burns Competition

Talented Dumfries and Galloway secondary pupils have smashed the National Schools Burns Competition run by the Robert Burns World Federation.

Competing against schools from across Scotland, they swept the board in bringing home a haul of trophies and medals with individual success matched by winning the coveted best recitation, singing, instrumental and bagpiping team prizes.

And the icing on the cake for all those representing Dumfries and Galloway Burns Association at Clydeview High School in Gourock was being crowned overall champions.

DGBA Schools Competition convener, Fiona Evans said: “We are extremely proud of all our young people who took part in the competition. They put in a sterling effort and their performances were all impressive.

“Every competitor’s scores are counted, so they all contributed towards us winning the team prizes and the overall best team prize. They all supported each other and showed an excellent attitude.

“We are now looking forward to the national primary competition on June 1.”

All those who took part from many schools across the region were the secondary gold and silver medallists from this year’s regional Schools Burns Competition.

The results for Dumfries and Galloway were:

Verse speaking (reciting): S1/2, Friendship Quaich: 1 Lily Owens; 2 Seth Byers; S3/4, McCuaig Cup: 1 Ella McTeir; 2 Teigan Weir; S5/6, Molly Rennie Trophy: 1 Molly McTeir; 3 Tess Harper.

Singing: S1/2, Scottish Boarders Crystal Bowl: 1 Seth Byers; 2 Lily Owens; S3/4, 2 Ella McTeir; S5/6, 2 Molly McTeir; 3 Niamh Stainthorpe.

Instrumental: S1/2, Friendship Quaich: 1 Seth Byers; S5/6, 3 Daisy Arnold.

Bagpiping: S1/2, Anne Gaw Cup: 1 Harris Morford; S3/4, 2 Ryan Wilson; 3 Reilly Shearer.

Overall vest verse speaker, Helen C G Morrison Trophy: Lily Owens.

Overall best bagpiper, RBANA Pipers Pennant: Harris Morford.

Overall winning teams:

Verse speaking, RBWF David Baird Shield: Dumfries and Galloway.

Singing, Burns Federation Steel City Conference Cup: Dumfries and Galloway.

Instrumental, RBWF Shield: Dumfries and Galloway.

Bagpiping, John and Betty McMillan Shield: Dumfries and Galloway.

Overall best team, Ayrshire Association BC Shield: Dumfries and Galloway.