Area Contest
Report by Graeme Conn.
Chris Boden and Ola Aralepo took the respective honours in the Area 34 Table Topics and Humorous Speech Contest final. David Jones from Holborn speakers finished as runner-up in both disciplines. Ian Duthie took the final podium spot in the Humerous Speech discipline, whilst Kenneth Adei took the bronze medal in the table topics contest.
Contest Chair for the evening, our very own Joga Bains. Joga’s warm-up routine, allowed the entire audience to answer the question “What do you mostly like about Toastmasters ?” The replies went something like this, “The people”, “The Guinness”, “The contacts”, “The Guinness”, “The Support”…. you guessed it “The Guinness”. A great warm-up for what would inevitably be a very successful evening at London’s finest. Well done Joga.
The humorous speech contestants for the night were David Jones, Ian Duthie, Kenneth Adei and Ora Aralepo. David Jones’s “Green Man” speech had clearly won the club competition, he knew that with the competition he had to step it up, that he did – it was definitely funnier and better delivered on the night. Ian Duthie gave us a humorous account of looking at life through a child’s eyes, a masterful and well delivered speech – he too was a definite contender for the title. Kenneth Adei explained how you don’t need to be 6 foot 4 to attract a partner, as long as you have the right chat up lines and you’re a good dancer then that’s all you need. BUT, Ora Aralepo’s “You look better on facebook” took the coveted first prize. He is obviously a seasoned stand-up comedian. He was allowed 7 minutes and 30 seconds, he was clocked at 7:27 and was so accurate with his timing, it seemed he knew he had a massive 3 seconds “buffer” before disqualification.
Personally, I would have happily paid good money to see every one of these contestants. Where else can you be entertained for free ??
The Table topics question, a very topical one “Isn’t it time we showed going green the red card ?”
David Jones produced a funny, but more serious answer to the question. What a question to ask a man who is probably greener than most, he rattled of facts, figures and key information and told us to be confident that scientists and governments are working towards a solution. Kenneth Adei asked “Who is this, who is this even thinking that we should be showing green the red card”. He delivered humorously aggressive attack on those people thinking that “going green” is a fad, and encouraged all to become greener. Our president, Chris Boden, on the night produced a faultless table topics display. Faultless not only because it won the competition, but it is still being talked about some weeks afterwards. Once again he demonstrated his natural ability to deliver a totally contrasted view of the question, in green he saw “Aliens” and in the red card he saw the “Red Planet”. Well done to the other table topics contestants for taking part.
As would be expected, the evening continued in the Rugby tavern downstairs until time was called, no red light this time, just the familiar sound of the last orders bell.
To quote David Jones, “I take part in every single competition, it is the finest way to improve”. So Holborn, get involved, get ready for your next club competition. Thank you to all the contestants, the timers, the counters, the guests, the judges, the contest chair, the president and to Holborn speakers club for another well hosted area final.
