From Iain Duthie, Tube Talk
As a new contest season starts we thought it was time to catch up with Gareth McHale, winner of the UK & Ireland International Speech contest 2009 and find out what he learned from competing at the Toastmasters International Convention in Connecticut, in August.
ID: How did you enjoy your transatlantic Toastmasters experience?
GM: It was a good time in Connecticut. Regrettably, I didn't get beyond the semi final - in retrospect my speech was probably not ideally suited to a non-UK audience. It went well when I road-tested it at my club, but perhaps it was a bit rapid-fire for non-native English speakers. (of which there were many in the heat I spoke in). No matter- I will learn from the experience.
ID: You didn’t use your District contest speech ‘Good Point’?
GM: Sadly not. It has to be a different one for the Semi final and if I’d won a place in the World Final I would have had to deliver another new speech.
ID: What did you think of the speeches at the World Final?
GM: The final was a very polished affair, although many of the speeches seemed a bit cheesy to the cynical British mind! I was very pleased that the winner, Mark Hunter, rose above that standard and delivered a very sincere, well constructed speech which made especially good use of language and just seemed a bit more cerebral than the others.
An Aussie in a wheelchair - although he didn't go for the sympathy vote. If anything, he used the wheelchair as an asset, looking particularly comfortable and rolling around the stage in a very cool manner! The speech was about disability, but in a very grown-up way and a very worthy winner.
ID: Did you get time to take in the convention itself?
GM: The convention was everything you'd expect of a big corporate group of (mainly) Americans! It was a great experience, but to be honest I was glad I had a car so that I could escape every so often and do some non-TM things. It's a lovely part of the country with a bit of genuine culture and something approaching history.
ID: There’s just so much to see in such a vast country...
GM: It is said that the main difference between us and them is that we consider 100 miles a long way, whereas they consider 100 years a long time.
ID: So what’s next in the Toastmaster calendar for you?
GM: I’ll be at the York conference in November. I've got your job as Contest Chair and am looking forward to it very much. I relish the chance to have control on the stage without worrying about the lights!
ID: So you decided not to compete this year?
GM: Normally, I'd be hoping to compete in the humorous contest, but this year I am unable to get to my club on the contest night. In any case would find it very hard to get to the Division contest as it is in Glasgow!
ID: That’s Division E for you – we’re a tad closer together here in Division B.
GM: I’m really looking forward to hearing all of the speeches and am looking forward to the York Conference. Not too sure about the pantomime themed fancy dress on the Friday though.
ID: Oh yes you are.
GM: Oh no I’m not.
ID: You’d look great as a Pantomime Dame.
GM: No comment! The White Rose Conference takes place in the Royal York Hotel, 13th – 15th November. For more details go to
www.whiteroseconference.org, but be quick as places are filling up fast!