Humourous Speech Contest 2021: new member triumphs!

Congratulations to Esther Skinner, winner of the 2021 Christchurch Women’s Toastmasters club Humourous Speech Contest!

Esther was competing in her first Humourous Speech Contest. She wasn’t even a member when we held our previous one, in September 2019! Esther came along to her first meeting in May 2020, attending online via Zoom due to pandemic restrictions on on-person meetings.

Esther’s performance shows that even new members have a chance when it comes to taking part in speech contests. Well done Esther!

Congratulations to everyone who took part. Second place winner was Lovey Ratima-Rapson (below, second from left), and third place went to Steph McDade (left).

Photo of speech contest winners holding their certificates, with contest chief judge.

Thank you to all the contest officials, especially Chief Judge John Ballantine of Bishopdale Toastmasters (above, right).

Our next and final contest of the Toastmaster year is the International Speech Contest which will be held at our meeting Friday, 26 February at 12.30pm. Visitors are always welcome! 🙂

If you think Christchurch Women’s Toastmasters may be for you, please join us at one of our meetings. Click here for details.

In the news: Christchurch Women’s Toastmasters club

We were delighted to get media coverage of our club’s recent achievements in the Nor’West News this week in Christchurch.

At the District 72 conference, our club won an award for having a positive impact on our community. It’s the second year we’ve won the Jack Duffy Memorial Rose Bowl.

Thanks to the Nor’west News for their interest in our community and our club!

“If at first you don’t succeed, compete, compete, again.”

Also at the conference, Laura Bruce won the District 72 Humourous Speech Contest with a speech entitled, “Smart, Helpful, and a Great Communicator, She’s the Ultimate Assistant”. Prior to this win, the best Laura had ever placed in the Toastmasters Humourous Speech contest was second place in her club contest in Scotland, in 2018.

“My experience with the Humourous Speech Contest should be an inspiration to all Toastmasters,” said Laura. “My first year in the contest [2014] I came second. The second year [2015], I went over time. The third year [2016], I came second. The fourth year, 2017, I was on the District Leadership Team and could not compete. In 2018, I placed again — but again, only second — and so could not progress to the Area contest.

“To finally make it to an Area contest in 2019 — now a member of Christchurch Women’s Club — was such a thrill! I was delighted to proceed to the Division Contest in April. But to win at District is the biggest thrill ever!”

“What I have learned from competing each year since I joined Toastmasters is that persistence pays off. I have also learned that it’s important that your speech be funny, and it’s good to get an early laugh to put your audience at ease.”

“It’s important to remember what you present in the Humourous Speech Contest still has to conform to the structure of a speech. It can’t be a series of one-liners, or a stand-up comedy routine,” she added.

“That being said, a funny story is an ideal starting point for the Humourous Speech Contest. I still remember the District 71 Contest at the Titanic Conference in Belfast in 2014. One of the contestants, a speaker from Ireland, talked about his trip to a water park in Italy. The imagery of his swimsuit making him stick to the water slide, together with the accompanying gestures, was hilarious. He had us in stitches — and he didn’t even win!”