A team from Mountainview High School is the master of spelling.
Mountainview 4 beat 21 other teams from throughout the central South Island to win the years 9 and 10 Otago Daily Times Extra! spelling quiz, held at the Timaru Boys' High School hall yesterday.
The winning team, made up of Jordan Harvey, Oscar Redgrave and Nathan Pain, earned 93 points out of a possible 100.
They were followed closely by Ashburton College 2 on 91 points and Opihi College 3 and Geraldine High School 2, which tied for third place with 90 points.
The Mountainview High School team is not unfamiliar with quiz wins - Oscar and Nathan won the Otago Daily Times Extra! current events quiz last year.
The trio said they were pleasantly surprised by the win.
"We all really like spelling,'' Jordan said.
"We all enjoy words,'' Nathan added.
Quiz co-ordinator and Extra! editor Ivan Behrnes said the afternoon's competition had been
strong, with the lead changing throughout the rounds.
Quiz competitors took part in 10 rounds including matching words to their country of origin, spelling words, abbreviations and matching words with their meanings.
Spelling words included resuscitate, vegetarian and gratitude.
Placegetters and their schools received plaques, pens and book vouchers.
There was also a special round for supporters.
The event was run by the ODT through its Newspapers in Education publication Extra!.
- Rachel Comer
