Talking her way to the top

Abigail Woods, a pupil of Ballyclare High, won her a coveted place in the final with her winning speech on the topic, “We are our mothers’ daughters”.

The final, of the competition, which annually attracts around 100 entries, takes place on Saturday in Belfast High School.

The winner will receive the Soroptimist Youth Award Perpetual Salver, a bursary award of 250 towards her education, and an invitation to deliver a speech at the Soroptimist International joint conference in Athlone from May 7 to 9. The winner’s school will also receive a 150 book token.