Police Scotland Youth Volunteers from Stranraer triumphed at the National PSYV Annual Competition at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan over the weekend Saturday 5/Sunday 6 August 2017.
The team of eight young people took on 21 other teams from across Scotland in a wide range of challenges including numerous sporting and problem solving challenges, a quiz and an observation test.
PSYV Stranraer started positively with an emphatic softball victory over Dundee East before going on to set the day’s fastest time in the baton relay. As the day progressed the team continued to show their physical strengths in the gym triathlon and their speed and agility combined with mental sharpness to excel at every problem solving challenge set before them. They finally edged out runners up Dunfermline in a quiz and observation test showing they were the best.
Stranraer PSYV Group Coordinator PC Graeme Stewart said “This was a great team performance and the win was thoroughly deserved. Every one of our young people played a part in the victory and they can all be rightly proud of their achievement. Coming from remote Galloway and winning a competition like this takes hard work, commitment and focus and our Youth Volunteers have this in abundance and are an absolute credit to their community.”
Dumfries and Galloway Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Gary Ritchie said “I am delighted that the Stranraer PSYV team have won this competition and they are a credit to themselves for their hard work and team effort. The competition from across Scotland was tough and our team excelled as a team and came out on top. Very well done to them and to Constable Graeme Stewart who now mentors the team, and his predecessor Constable Nicola Wilson for their commitment to the young people.”
The team, comprising of Chloe Trussler, Maria Denholm, Craig Anderson, Dylan McCurdy, Craig Wilson, Sam McCluskey, Connor Howe and Ryan McGhie are all pupils at Stranraer Academy and give up a fair bit of their own time helping out in community events. This week they will be attending and helping out at the Youth Beatz music festival in Dumfries on Saturday 12 August 2017.
