MACHARS RED lifted the crown at the west junior speechmaking event held on Sunday, November 17 at Coulter hall. Eight teams took to the stage to impress judges Lizzie Mackie, Lisa Crichton and Hugh Russell but the trio of Ellie McClymont, Hamish Sutherland and Angus McClymont proved a class act with their topic ‘The Beat of Life’. Second place was awarded to Biggar and third place to Mauchline with the winning team’s Ellie McClymont also gaining the award for best individual overall. Best chair was awarded to Lucy Sutherland from Mauchline, best proposer to Karen Shepherd from Kilmaurs and best opposer to Carluke’s Robbie Gray.