Competitors in our uTalk Challenge Final took language learning to a whole new level with not one but two tie breaks. The competition, held at London’s Olympia, was so tightly contested that it had to go into extra time as two players drew for first place and two more for third place – only one point behind the leaders. And the standard of play was so strong across the board that we had to put 16 children forward for the final play-off instead of the usual 12.
“We’re really amazed by you all!” says uTalk Director Ricahrd Howeson. “A huge well done to everyone who took part and, regardless of who won, we hope you all came away with something special – the confidence to speak a few words in someone else’s language.”
The uTalk Challenge raised more than £12,200 for uTalk’s chosen charity onebillion which works to educate children in developing countries. Thank you so much for this wonderful gift and to everyone who took part in the competition.
The uTalk Challenge prize winners
(and what they won):
1st Angel Mendel-Idowu of Wokingham, Berks won a holiday of a lifetime worth up to £5,000.
2nd Riya Sangampalayam of Redhill won The Mrs T. Collender Memorial Prize of a runners up trophy and £100 worth of Amazon vouchers.
3rd Yuvan Raja of Byfleet, Surrey won £50 worth of Amazon vouchers.
4th Alyssia Gill of Loughborough also won £50 worth of Amazon vouchers. (We don’t usually give a 4th prize but this competition was so close, we bent the rules!)
The youngest entrant in the top ten finalists, Kamron Gill of Loughbough, won £50 which was donated and presented by past winner Tudor Mendel-Idowu.
Also, Suki Gill (Alyssia’s and Kamron’s mum) won the the parents competition and went home with a bottle of Champagne.
The teacher whose school entered most pupils into the competition won a trophy and chocolates from the Mrs T. Collender Memorial Fund. This year’s prize went to Teresa Stark of St Helen’s College, Uxbridge. The Fund also doubled the money raised by St Helen’s for onebilion.
Special mentions go to:
Finalist Emily Anwen Bates from Cardiff who raised £100 for the charity onebillion by getting sponsored for every point she won at the final.
All the parents and teachers who make the competition possible.
Marks and Spencer for the great sandwiches.
Fruit for Thought for the healthy snacks.
