If it were not for the fact of some good friendships, things could be quite awkward at Fairfield School this morning.
Four teams from the school were competing for glory at the years 5 and 6 Otago Daily Times Extra! Dunedin spelling quiz at Tahuna Intermediate last night, and the favoured of the four did not place in the competition.
Instead, the Fairfield team comprising Caitlin Andrews (10), Kevin Acero (11) and Aditi Poojari (10) won, and became the first team in this year's round of quizzes to achieve 100 points.
Aditi said they were very surprised to win.
''It's our first time in the competition.
''We expected the other Fairfield team to beat us because they've got two people who are really smart, and they've done this competition before.
''It feels pretty good to beat them.''
They hoped there would be a celebration at school today.
''Maybe some cake, but no streamers or parades, thanks,'' Caitlin said.
Macandrew Bay School's team consisting of Ciara Coffey, Ruby Lund and Jack van Baalen (all 10) were runners-up, and Andersons Bay School's team consisting of Aria McFelin (11), Aidan Blakie (10) and Ella Sutton (10) were third.
Later in the evening, the years 7 and 8 competition had a very close finish.
Columba College pupils Isabella Cameron, Clara Ballantyne and Tessa Smith were ''elated'' to win with a score of 93.
They also felt lucky, because hot on their heels with 92 points were second-equal placed teams Aubrey Alsop-Mackie, Birdie Tannock and Amy Batson (all 12) of Dunedin North Intermediate and Adrien Auvray-Matyn (12), Hunor Peter (13) and Hunter Moreton (12) of Kaikorai Valley College.
The Otago Daily Times Extra! spelling quizzes are part of the newspaper's Class Act project, which celebrates the excellence of young people.
Extra! is a monthly educational publication produced by the newspaper for senior primary, intermediate and junior secondary school pupils.
