One point covers top three in quiz

Teams competing in the Extra! spelling quiz held in Timaru last night listen to instructions before another round. Photo by Alex Fensome.
Teams competing in the Extra! spelling quiz held in Timaru last night listen to instructions before another round. Photo by Alex Fensome.
It was year 9 and 10s turn to be examined in the Otago Daily Times Extra! spelling quiz last night in Timaru.

In a tight finish, Craighead Diocesan School's year 9 team of Renee Olley, Kimberley Mobbs and Emily Copland emerged the winner by one point, with a score of 93.

Timaru Boys' High School and Opihi School tied for second place on 92.

•  More pictures from the quiz

Thirty-eight teams from across the central South Island competed in the quiz. Questions were put by TBHS rector Kevin O'Sullivan.

The standard was high, though some pupils thought the abbreviation AGM stood for American government meeting, agricultural ground movement or animal group management. It actually means annual general meeting.

But this was the exception rather than the rule and New Zealand English appeared to be in good hands for the future.

Craighead teachers Margaret Foley and Glenys Whittington were delighted their girls won the day.

"We didn't do a lot of training, but we told them which rounds were most important to win, they said.

"Thanks to the ODT, Ivan Behrnes and the team for putting this together.

"All of the girls look forward to it each year."

Last night's quiz was the last of three in Timaru.

Years 5 and 6, and 7 and 8 competed on Wednesday night.