Oathall Community College’s team of Tom Hother, Daniel Kingdom and Andrew Pearcy were announced 2012 National Winners of ‘Youth Speaks’, the Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland (RIBI) public speaking competition, held on Saturday, April 28th in Wrexham.
Following on from their success at the district finals our senior public speaking team attended the South East regional finals at Chessington Community College on Sunday 25th March.
Andrew Pearcy, Tom Hother and Dan Kingdom once again delivered superb speeches. Speaking against a strong field of students from mainly independant schools their performances shone out and we can report that they were once again victorious! The team now go through to the National Finals which will be held in Wrexham, Wales at the end of April.
This is a fantastic achievement for our team; they have worked hard on their speeches and have consistently risen to the occasion. We are extremely proud of their achievements and wish them all the very best in the finals.
Oathall Young Farmers put out their youngest ever team for the annual Sussex County YFC Competitions Day held at Plumpton College on Sunday 4 March 2012.
The youngsters, many of whom had never competed before and who were aged 11-16, came away with a host of prize cards and 10 individual cups or trophies.
Competitions included stock judging, animal husbandry, countryside knowledge, tractor driving, pottery, cycle safety, flower arranging and egg painting. Other more light hearted classes involved eating doughnuts or chocolate washed down with lemonade all against the clock.
The students are grateful for the support they receive from local farmers and would like to thank Anthony Hole and sons from Burgess Hill who provided expert cycle safety training.
Club leader and teacher Howard Wood commented: “I never fail to be amazed by the talents, enthusiasm and hard work displayed by the young people of today, they earn all their successes.”
Frazer with his trophies at the SoE Show
Oathall’s livestock came away with a clutch of ribbons and prizes at this year’s show on the 9, 10 and 11 June 2011.
We scooped first prize in the cattle and pig sections, including the overall livestock exhibitors award in the pig section.
Highlights were our Large White boar Oathall Viking 6th winning the traditional breeds championship, and there were also firsts for sows Emma (Mrs. Rimmer) and Jill (Head teacher Mrs. Wilson). Our pair of Large White porkers were reserve champions in the commercial pig category.
OCC student Frazer Wilson showed the champion dairy calf in the calf rearing classes, winning the Heasman trophy and then the West Sussex Times Challenge cup for the best overall exhibit (dairy and beef calves) Joining forces with Rosanna Curtis the two of them showed the champion pair of calves.
Oathall Rustic Milkmaid 2 won her Ayrshire breed class, she is the mother of our champion calf. Well done to all OCC students who took part, an excellent result!
Ben with his award after the show
On 28 May we took seven cattle to the annual Heathfield Show and came away with a fantastic four first prize cards!
Our star performers were Oathall Rustic Milkmaid 2 in the dry cow class, her daughter Oathall Rustic Milkmaid 5 in the heifer calf class, and Ava Frohmader in the handlers class. Oathall Rustic Milkmaid 5 won the East Sussex Ayrshire Cattle Club Perpetual Tankard.
OCC student Ben Keegan was the winner of one of the most prestigious awards to be handed out at this years show. Fifteen year old Ben who recently completed a land-based course at Oathall, scooped The Henry Noakes Young Achiever Trophy, named after one of Heathfield Agricultural Society’s founding members. Ben was presented with his trophy by Angela Deakin, the daughter of Henry Noakes.
Ben has been a star student at Oathall but it was his work with our pig herd and his support for younger students on the farm which prompted Mr Wood to write a glowing testimonial on his behalf.
Ben has reared his own pigs and turned them into sausages some of which were enjoyed at the stockman’s BBQ at the south of England show recently!
