Easters

2011 Trials: TBC

2011 Dates: TBC

2011 Location: TBC

Easters: so exciting youll use hand gestures.

Easters: so exciting you'll use hand gestures.

Prep Time: 4 minutes

Speech Length: 6 minutes

Speakers: 2 per team

Points of Information: are not allowed.

The University Games is home to the Officers’ Cup debating tournament (more frequently known as ‘Easters’). It is the first intervarsity tournament on the debating calendar and it pits teams of two speakers against one another with only three minutes to prepare. Not suprisingly it has become known as a fast-paced and exciting start to the year.

Team numbers are capped at five, so trials are held to determine what speakers will go as part of the Auckland contingent. Due to its association with NZ University Games Easters is held wherever the games are; in 2010 this was Invercargill.

Easters 2010:

  • Akif Malik and Steph Thompson made it to the Grand Final before losing in a 4-1 split to Victoria 2
  • Gretta Schumacher broke to the semi-finals, losing in a close debate to Victoria 2
  • Ben Milsom received a ‘Highly Commended’ award.

Easters 2009:

  • Max Harris was named as a member of the New Zealand team
  • Steph Thompson received a ‘Highly Commended’ award
  • Max Harris and Ben Milsom (A2) broke to the semi-finals
  • Kathy Errington was named ‘Most Promising Speaker’
  • Desley Horton was named Best Adjudicator of the tournament

Easters 2008:

  • Max Harris was selected as a reserve for the New Zealand Impromptu Debating Team.
  • Akif Malik received a ‘Highly Commended’ award.
  • Qi-Shan Lim received a ‘Promising Speaker’ award.
  • Two trainee adjudicators (Patrick Senior and Kate Mills) both accredited as NZUDC adjudicator.

Easters 2003:

  • A1 break to the final.
  • Jonathan Orpin and Jesse Wilson named on NZU Impromptu Debating Team
  • Amy Vinkenvleugel received a ‘Promising Speaker’ award

    Like all national tournaments, Easters comes to life at night too.

    Like all national tournaments, Easters comes to life at night too.

Easters 2002:

  • A1 break to the semi final before being beaten by the eventual winners (Massey).
  • Tim Fitzgerald is Chief Adjudicator
  • Jesse Wilson was named as Reserve for the NZU Impromptu Debating Team
  • Paul Patterson received a ‘Promising Speaker’ award
  • Anna-Marie Wallis, Amy Vinkenvleugel, Kira Brent and Spencer Vickers accredited as NZUDC adjudicators
  • Rishab Sethi was elected ‘Best Adjudicator’ of the tournament

For more information on how the Society has performed at Easters over the years (or if you have further detail to add to this page) visit the full page on our own wiki,available here.