PRIMARY pupils from the Wee County impressed the judges with their recitals at the ever-growing annual Regional Burns Competition.

Held just two weeks after Scotland celebrated The Bard, dozens of story-tellers arrived at Alva primary school to take part last Wednesday, February 8.

The event was organised by Clackmannanshire Council with Alloa Burns Club judging and sponsoring.

The number of participating schools doubled from the year before to 10 with children representing Alva, Abercromby, Strathdevon, St Serf’s, Menstrie, Redwell, Craigbank, Clackmannan, Banchory and Park primaries.

Judging took place across two age groups for P4-5 and P6-7, with the panel having a tough time deciding on the winners and runners up.

Eventually, it was decided that Leah Fairweather, P5 at St Serf’s, would take the Robert Anderson Shield home as the winner from the younger cohort.

Zoe Knox, P5 at Menstrie primary, was the runner up.

Winning in the older age group was Aimey Dysart, P7 at Clackmannan PS, and she proudly lifted the Robert Sloan Cup.

P7 Abercomby Primary School pupil Madison Craig settled for second place as the runner up in this category.

Graham Kerr, president of Alloa Burns Club, led the judging and was well-impressed by this year’s standards.

He said: “I was very impressed with the children They were all outstanding and it was very difficult to find a winner, in both categories.

“The standard is certainly getting a lot higher.”

He gave a “huge thanks” to Alva PS headteacher Allison Littlejohns for hosting the event and for her support throughout the planning process.

Organisers also noted that more parents and guardians were in attendance to spectate than previous years.

Graham added: “It must be quite nerve-wrecking for the children, to stand up in the middle of the hall and do their recitations.

“It was excellent, it was well done and the winners were worthy winners – it was difficult to choose because they were all very good.”

There are hopes the event will be even bigger next year with the possibility of all Wee County primaries participating.