Otago Daily Times

Extra! spelling quiz

- AL WILLIAMS and ALEXIA JOHNSTON

TIMARU’S Sacred Heart Primary School took the top honours in the years 5 and 6 section of the Extra! spelling quiz last night, followed by Gleniti Primary School, also from Timaru.

Sacred Heart beat 26 teams from across the central South Island to win with 96 points out of a possible 100.

They were closely followed by Gleniti with 95 points and Woodbury School from Geraldine, with 94 points.

Quiz competitor­s took part in 10 rounds tackling tasks including matching words to their country of origin, spelling words, abbreviati­ons and matching words with their meanings.

Extra! editor and coordinato­r of the quiz Ivan Behrnes said 1400 pupils were competing in the spelling quizzes, in events in Dunedin, Christchur­ch, Cromwell and Timaru.

‘‘We have had record numbers of entrants in the Central South Island spelling quizzes this year.

‘‘It’s good to see schools from Oamaru through to Ashburton taking part.’’

Year 78 teams, representi­ng 18 schools, gathered later in the night.

Four of those teams tied for first place — St Joseph’s Ashburton, Ashburton Intermedi ate, Waihi School and Mount Hutt College.

Each of them was put to the test one last time, quizzed on a series of spellings, including ‘‘conquerabl­e’’ and ‘‘cuisine’’, but it was ‘‘veterinari­an’’ that secured Waihi School the win, with 96 points.

Waihi School’s winning team members Hugh Saunders (12) and Lachlan Short (12), who were in a winning team at one of last year’s events, were this time joined by Sebastian Ferro (11).

While it was a tough competitio­n, securing five points in the ‘‘all or nothing’’ round was what helped them on their way to winning, Hugh said.

Lachlan was confident in his team’s spelling of veterinari­an.

‘‘I knew that we had [it correct]. I was just hoping that the other teams didn’t,’’ he said.

Mr Behrnes said it was probably the first time there had been a fourwaytie in the competitio­n.

Placegette­rs and their schools received plaques and book vouchers.

There was also a special round for supporters to take part in.

The ODT ran the event through its newspapers in Extra!

 ??  ??
 ?? PHOTOS: AL WILLIAMS & ALEXIA JOHNSTON ?? Anticipati­on . . . Eighty year 5 and 6 pupils, making up 27 teams from 14 schools compete in the Central South Island Spelling Quiz at Timaru Boys’ High School last night.
PHOTOS: AL WILLIAMS & ALEXIA JOHNSTON Anticipati­on . . . Eighty year 5 and 6 pupils, making up 27 teams from 14 schools compete in the Central South Island Spelling Quiz at Timaru Boys’ High School last night.
 ??  ?? Top of the class . . . Year 78 category winners from Waihi School (from left) Sebastian Ferro (11), Lachlan Short (12) and Hugh Saunders (12) celebrate their success after a hardfought competitio­n.
Top of the class . . . Year 78 category winners from Waihi School (from left) Sebastian Ferro (11), Lachlan Short (12) and Hugh Saunders (12) celebrate their success after a hardfought competitio­n.
 ??  ?? Winning form . . . Sacred Heart Primary School pupils (from left) Chloe Gordon (10), Annie Henderson (11) and Anastasia Burrell (10) celebrate their win in the years 5 and 6 section.
Winning form . . . Sacred Heart Primary School pupils (from left) Chloe Gordon (10), Annie Henderson (11) and Anastasia Burrell (10) celebrate their win in the years 5 and 6 section.
 ??  ?? Sussing it out . . . Craighead Diocesan School pupils (from left) Alysha Bradley, Jahzara Payne and Jessamy Roadley (all 12) support each other during the year 78 quiz in Timaru last night.
Sussing it out . . . Craighead Diocesan School pupils (from left) Alysha Bradley, Jahzara Payne and Jessamy Roadley (all 12) support each other during the year 78 quiz in Timaru last night.
 ??  ?? Smart thinking . . . Bluestone School’s Lucy Park (12, left), Paris Williams (12) and Zoe RyanThomso­n (12) put their spelling skills to the test in the Year 78 quiz late last night.
Smart thinking . . . Bluestone School’s Lucy Park (12, left), Paris Williams (12) and Zoe RyanThomso­n (12) put their spelling skills to the test in the Year 78 quiz late last night.

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