TALENT was certainly on show at the SAYFC West Region Talent Spot as clubs and districts performed 10-minute sketches to parade their singing and dancing skills at what is one of the highlights of the West's calendar. 

The annual event attracted past and present members to the SEC Armadillo, in Glasgow, and this year didn’t disappoint as nine teams from across the region battled it out to claim the coveted Wiseman’s Crystal Thistle. The evening was hosted by West chairman, Suzie Dunn, and after an opening song from East Kilbride YFC’s Gillian Crozier, the teams took to the stage to impress the judges, Miss Vikki Doig, Mrs Jacqui Brand, and Robbie Duncan. 

Less than two full points split the top three teams, but taking the lead with 88 points was Carluke YFC with ‘Absolutely brickin’ it’, an action, song and dance-packed tale following Lego characters in the playroom and the rush to save one character who was sooked up by ‘Hettie the hoover’. The cast kept to character with their Lego hands throughout which added to the overall impression, and the performance was produced by Duncan Hodge and Mhairi Lake, with Mhairi also behind the choreography. 

Coming in second with 87 1/3 was Mauchline YFC’s ‘African adventure’, which followed a group of animals and tourists on the African plain. Many of the individual animal characters each had their individual chance to shine, and this one was produced by Kat Goldie with Isabel Hunter on choreography. 

The final act of the evening, Biggar YFC’s ‘Best Cell-er’, which was produced by James Drife and Kevin Robison and choreographed by Emma Hendrie, finished in third place with 86 2/3. This was another to highlight the talent in the cast as Ross Kemp took the audience on a tour of a prison and followed the antics of a new arrival. 

This performance also bagged the club the award for reserve best act outwith the winning team, for the singing trio of Carolann Barrie, Skye Watson and Ruth Elliot, but the best act outwith the winning team was Wigtownshire’s David Watson who shone performing two solos in the district’s ‘Love me tinder’ performance. 

Back to entertain the crowds in between performances was the front of curtain competition and it was Courtney Gold, Kirsten Inch and Kirsten McLean from Lanarkshire that stole the show with their performance of ‘Let it go’ from ‘Frozen’. 

Ahead of the awards ceremony, two acts brought the performance part of the evening to a close, with Beith YFC and Ayr YFC performing a number of song and dance routines from their 75th anniversary concerts.

See this week's issue of The Scottish Farmer, out April 1, for a picture spread, including a turn back time special.