Grammar School’s Youth Speaks team with the district trophy. From the left, Katie Flynn, Rose Armstrong and Harvey Rice are now preparing for the regional final and hope to emulate last year’s team, which made it all the way to the nationals. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0730539)

THREE teenagers have proved it pays to know how to be lazy after coming out on top of a regional round of a public speaking competition.

Grammar School pupils Harvey Rice, 15, Rosie Armstrong, 14, and Katie Flynn, 14, were the youngest team taking part in their heat of the Rotary Youth Speaks competition.

They said their win had been a complete surprise.

‘The competition was of such a high standard,’ said Katie. ‘The next competition will be even harder.’

They competed in Eastleigh on Saturday against teams from Hampshire, Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight.

The groups could talk about whatever subject they wished except politics and religion. While other teams talked about genetics, juries and prisoners, the Guernsey team spoke on ‘007 – Licence to Laze’.

They argued that people needed to find more time to relax, especially in the current stressful financial climate.

‘One of the reasons we did well is because we injected humour into our talk,’ said Harvey.

‘We also made it relevant to current times.’