Scottish Borders Primary Schools Burns Poetry Competition

Burns Night just wouldn’t be the same without hearing the address to a haggis, the Selkirk grace and a selection of Burns best!

 

We are looking for the best poets and Scots speakers from any Primary School in the Scottish Borders to send us your recordings, whether it's you reading the words of Rabbie or a poem you've written that's inspired by Scotland.

1. Make a recording of you reading a piece of Burns poetry or a poem you have written. If you’re reading your own poem, it needs to have a Scottish theme.

2. The recording should be audio only, no video files please.

3. This link will take you to the entry form. Fill in a few details and upload your recording to your entry. Alternatively, email your entry to us at info@scotlandshop.com.

3. Entries close on the 29th January & will be judged by the Border Association of Burns Clubs. We’ll announce the winners in February. Good Luck!

To participate, follow the link below to submit your entry.

SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY HERE > 

First Place

A tartan scarf & box of ScotlandShop fudge for you and £300 for your school + The option to compete at The Robert Burns World Federation, Junior Schools Competition*.

second place

A box of ScotlandShop fudge for you and £200 for your school + The option to compete at The Robert Burns World Federation, Junior Schools Competition*.

*Please note that The Robert Burns World Federation, Junior Schools Competition is an in person event & that poetry must be recited. Full details will be provided via the The Border Association of Burns Clubs.

first place

First place went to Heather from Primary 6 at Heriot Primary School for her rendition of Burns' poem 'A Red, Red Rose. It was beautifully read, with so much expression and meaning. Thank you too to Heather's class for the wonderful 'An Ode tae a can o' Irn Bru'! 

An ode tae a can o' Irn bru

 

Just oot o'the cooler, bricht orange 'n' blae
Th' steam coming aff ye, maks ma noggin sway
Yer shiny 'n tinny, smuith nae raff
Ah yer sae cauld, ye'll freeze ma fingers aff

 

Noo, yank the ring, yer sounds aw crackly         
Bubbles pop in ma een, 'n ye look aw sparkly
Foamy orange, fawin oer the toap
Ah ye soun' lik sqeeb, ah'll drink e're droap

 

Ma taste buds are tinglin, ma thrapples aw yummy
Yer ginger broo flows lik a brae doon tae ma tummy
Ah drink it aw doon in yin mahookie gowp
Th' taste o' Scoatch in a tinnie wid fair mak ye loup

 

Aw noo there's nae mare, th' ginger joos is aw gon'
Runkling the tinnie wi ma cauld, clueken haun
A wamefu o' fizz maks ma gab thraw a grin
Better gan roond the shoaps n get anither yin in

 

By Heriot Primary P5/6/7

second place

Second place went to Georgia from Primary 2 at Duns Primary School for such a lovely rendition of Burns' Selkirk Grace. Clear and crisp, it was an absolute please to listen to.

Founded in Duns in 2002, ScotlandShop are tartan specialists, supplying made to measure clothing for the whole family, home furnishings & accessories in more than 500 tartans. Discounts are available for Scottish Borders residents with a TD postcode.

The Border Association of Burns Clubs is a member of the Robert Burns World Federations No. 1157 with clubs in Hawick, Duns, Galashiels, Coldstream, Jedburgh, Whiteadder & Eyemouth.

1. Submission of an entry to the competition assumes agreement with these terms and conditions.

2. The competition is being run by Browne White Ltd t/a ScotlandShop, registered office is Station Road, Duns, Berwickshire, TD11 3EJ in partnership with the Border Association of Burns Clubs.

3. ScotlandShop reserves the right to cancel the competition or amend these terms and conditions at any time, without prior notice.

4. The competition is open to any primary school pupil at any primary school in the Scottish Borders.

5. One entry per individual pupil is permitted.

6. The competition is free to enter.

7. The competition will be judged on those entries submitted up to 11pm on the 29th January 2025.

8. To enter the competition, upload an entry to the Entry form. Alternatively, email your entry to us at info@scotlandshop.com.

9. ScotlandShop will not accept responsibility if contact details provided are incomplete or inaccurate.

10. First and second prizes are on offer.

First place: A tartan scarf & box of ScotlandShop fudge for the pupil, £300 contribution to the school + The option to compete at The Robert Burns World Federation, Junior Schools Competition*.

Second place: A box of ScotlandShop fudge for the pupil, £200 donation to the school + The option to compete at The Robert Burns World Federation, Junior Schools Competition*.

*Please note that The Robert Burns World Federation, Junior Schools Competition is an in person event & that poetry must be recited. Full details will be provided via the The Border Association of Burns Clubs.

10. The winner will be chosen by The Border Association of Burns Clubs & ScotlandShop.

11. The decision of ScotlandShop regarding any aspect of the competition is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into.
 

12. The winning schools will be notified by ScotlandShop in February 2025. Prizes for the winning pupils will be supplied to the school.

13. ScotlandShop will publicise the winning schools on our social media channels and to local media. ScotlandShop will only publicise the name and class of the winning pupils once permission to do so has been received from the school. If permission is not given, ScotlandShop will refer to the schools in promotional material, but will not refer to class or pupil names.

14. ScotlandShop will make payment of the school contributions within two weeks of the winners' announcement.

15. All pupil and class names will be retained for the purposes of administering the competition only. Once the competition has closed, all entries and entrant details will be deleted.

16. All personal information shall be used in accordance with ScotlandShop's Privacy Notice.

17. ScotlandShop does not accept any liability for any damage, loss, injury or disappointment suffered by any entrants as a result of either participating in the competition or being selected for a prize, save that ScotlandShop does not exclude its liability for death or personal injury as a result of its own negligence.