Wellington Speaking Union | Debating in Wellington

Congratulations to the final four teams in the Premier A grade for making it through to the semi-finals. Semi-finals are hosted by the school in each matchup who ended the highest in the rounds.

The semi-finals are on Tuesday 7 September and are limited preparation, with topics being announced at 6:30pm and the debates themselves beginning at 7pm.

The semi-finals are:

St Pats Silverstream (4) v Scots College (8) – hosted by Silverstream
Samuel Marsden (6) v Sacred Heart (7) – hosted by Marsden

Stream will affirm and Scots negate, as Scots have had 2 negs and 4 affs so far.
Marsden and Sacred Heart will have sides determined by coin toss on the night.

Here are the sixteen teams (in order) who have progressed through to the octo-finals of the Junior Certificate grade.

1. Chilton: Five wins, 7 strength of draw points
2. Sacred Heart College 3: Five wins, 7 strength of draw points
3. HIBS 1: Five wins, 7 strength of draw points
4. St Oran’s College 3: Five wins, 7 strength of draw points
5. Wellington Girls’ 3: Four wins, 17 strength of draw points
6. Newlands College: Four wins, 14 strength of draw points
7. St Pat’s Town 1: Four wins, 13 strength of draw points
8. Paraparaumu College 1: Four wins, 13 strength of draw points
9. St Pat’s Town 2: Four wins, 11 strength of draw points
10. Wellington Girls’ 5: Four wins, 10 strength of draw points
11. Aotea College 1: Four wins, 10 strength of draw points
12. Tawa College 3: Four wins, 9 strength of draw points
13. HIBS 2: Four wins, 4 strength of draw points
14. St Mary’s College 3: Three wins, 17 strength of draw points
15. Raphael House: Three wins, 15 strength of draw points
16. Bishop Viard: Three wins, 14 strength of draw points

The octo final draw is as follows.  Host schools are marked in BOLD.

Bishop Viard v Chilton
Sacred Heart College 3 v Raphael Hose
St Mary’s College 3 v HIBS 1
St Oran’s College 3 v HIBS 2
Tawa College 3 v Wellington Girls’ 3
Newlands College v Aotea College 1
Wellington Girls’ 5 v St Pats Town 1
Paraparaumu College 1 v St Pats Town 2

The format for octo finals will be limited preparation (the same as Round 4).  Topic envelopes will be posted to host schools prior to the debate.  The host school will affirm the moot and visiting school will negate.  Teams will have thirty minutes to prepare.  Speaking times are the same as for prepared debates.

Full results for the other teams will be posted soon.

Here are the results of the Senior Cert quarter-finals held recently. Winners in bold.

Topic: That the SAS should come home from Afghanistan

St Mary’s College 1 v Wellington East Girls’ College 1
St Oran’s College 2 v Wellington Girls’ College 2
Aotea College v HIBS 1
St Mary’s College 2 v Bishop Viard College 1

The draw for the semi-finals, to be held on August 26, is as follows:

Wellington East Girls’ College 1 v St Mary’s College 2
Aotea College v Wellington Girls’ College 2

Topic: That we should mine our National Parks