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MAD success at championships

19 March 2008

Monash A team members Fiona Prowse and Tim Jeffrie battled it out with Oxford University, Cambridge University and the University of Sydney in the grand final of the World University Debating Championships.

The Monash Association of Debaters (MAD) had great success at the recent 2008 World University Debating Championships, with Monash A making it to the Grand Final against Oxford, Cambridge and the University of Sydney.

Although the Oxford team took out the title, it was Monash’s best result since 2004 and comes on the back of wins in 1999 and 2000.

The World University Debating Championships, held this year in Bangkok, are the largest non-sporting university event in the world.

Over 1200 people in 400 teams from universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Harvard, Stanford and Yale compete for the world’s most prestigious debating title.

Countries represented this year included Japan, China, Korea, Germany, Russia, Pakistan, India, Australia, New Zealand, America, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Monash sent the second largest contingent, with five teams and 20 adjudicators participating.

MAD President Melissa Birch said the group had an extraordinary time at the nine day event.

"The championships cover nine gruelling preliminary rounds, followed by finals. The effort was exhausting but made exciting by the fact that the debates were held at some of Bangkok’s most elaborate venues," Ms Birch said.

"The Grand Final was an enormous gala event, including an awe-inspiring opening ceremony where the official party rode in on elephants and the competing teams entered to themed music and a light show.

"Our congratulations go to arts/law students Fiona Prowse and Tim Jeffrie for their efforts in making the Grand Final -- Fiona was also ranked 10th best speaker of the tournament.

"We also congratulate the Monash B team Sashi Balaraman and Victor Finkel who made the octo-finals of the championships and our five adjudicators who were selected to judge the finals series of the competition (Kylie Lane, Tom Chapman, Roland Dillon, Claire Lindsey and Ajay Kevat.)"