Chloe shows her poetic prowess
A Viewlands Primary pupil who recited a Scots poem about the wind became the winner of the 2019 Soutar Bairnrhymes competition.
The William Soutar Trophy was won by Chloe Mackay of Viewlands (The Wind); second place went to Jack Smith of Robert Douglas (The Lowpin Match); and third was Spencer Stewart of Oakbank (Aince Upon a Day).
This year a record 430 children from ten primary schools participated in publicly performing poetry intended to enthrall youngsters by the late, great William Soutar, celebrated poet from Perth. He called these humorous works in the Scots tongue‘Bairnrhymes’. From the huge number of contestants, the finalists were from: Abernethy PS (Iona Blues, Anna Smith); Balhousie (Lily Anderson, Deni Gesheva); Craigie (Ava Erskine, Manon Schembri); Kinnoull (Reece Baird, Lacey McLean); Letham (Kenzie Fagan, Khai Henry); Moncreiffe (Daisie Devlin, Isla Gray); Oakbank (Beth Donoghue, Spencer Stewart); Robert Douglas (Scarlet Milne, Jack Smith); Tulloch (Cieran Chan, Ellie Melloy); and Viewlands (Lucy Adams, Chloe Mackay).
They came for the final, held at the Soutar House on Tuesday, October 1. The atmosphere was set as they were performing the Bairnrhymes in William Soutar’s room, where the poems were written.
STV filmed the event and the winners appeared on Tuesday’s evening news programme.
All children qualifying as finalists, plus reserves, received certificates and keeping Scots language at the top of the agenda, all attendees received a copy of‘The Tale o the Wee Mowdie’, and the top three places were presented with copies of‘Diary of a Wimpy Wean’.