Swotting up vocabulary pays off handsomely for winning schoolchildren

THE first word pupils were asked to spell yesterday evening at the Otago Daily Times Extra! Spelling Quiz in Central Otago was ‘‘action’’, setting the tone for spirited competition.

More than 100 children from all over the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago districts participated in the event at Cromwell College, showing off their spelling knowledge with some tricky words.

Two competitions were held, for years 56 and years 78.

A team from Queenstown’s Remarkables Primary School, Cameron Bates, Tayah Vivian and Siena Mackley, won the top prize for the years 56 contest.

Siena said she was ‘‘sur prised’’ at the win.

‘‘I didn’t think we had a chance. It was really hard.’’

But the girls had been practising.

‘‘I practised for it all my holiday,’’ Charlotte said.

The girls said they would like to continue spelling and maybe even begin writing.

Years 78 winners Jacob Bromby, Riley Allan and Rose Wearing, of The Terrace School in Alexandra, were ‘‘happy’’ with their win but there were a few mixed thoughts in the team about the difficulty.

Jacob thought it ‘‘wasn’t that hard’’ while Rose and Riley thought it was a bit challenging.

‘‘Probably figuring out what matched to which country was the hardest,’’ Rose said.

Extra! editor Trish Rowe said it was her third Extra! quiz.

‘‘It’s really rewarding to see the kids put their heads down. There were parts where they turned the page and it was so quiet.

‘‘They’re really engaged with the work they were given.’’

The Central Otago years 910 quiz will be held tonight.

Discussion time . . . Annie Dowling (centre) suggests a way forward to teammates Alivia Steele (left) and Grace Farquhar (all 10), all from St John’s School team, of Ranfurly.

The answer’s in here . . . Cromwell Primary School pupils (from left) Mella Stevenson (11), Gabby Sanders (10) and Ella Anderson (10) whizz through the dictionary round.

PHOTOS: TOM KITCHIN Thinking about it . . . Glenorchy Primary team (from left) Harley Davies (13), Sam Glover (12) and Ruby Davies (11) put their heads together to come up with the answer.

Winning smiles . . . A team from Remarkables Primary School took first place in the Central Otago Extra! years 56 spelling competition yesterday. They are (from left) Cameron Bates, Siena Mackley and Tayah Vivian (all 10).

Got gold . . . Otago Daily Times Extra! Central Otago years 78 winners from The Terrace School in Alexandra are (from left) Jacob Bromby (12), Riley Allan (11) and Rose Wearing (12).