Just two points separated the top teams in yesterday's Otago Daily Times Extra! Central South Island year 9 and 10 current events quiz last night in Timaru.
One hundred and seventy-one pupils from 57 schools in an area covering Ashburton, Waimate, Geraldine and Mt Hutt competed in 10 rounds, covering world events, general knowledge, identifying flags and newspaper scavenger hunts.
Timaru Boys High 1, consisting of Michael Shaw, James Nicol and Josh Pavelka were first, with a score of 93 out of a possible 100.
They won a prize of a plaque for the school, medals and book vouchers.
Ashburton College 4, Aiden Ackten, Cameron Havis and and Matthew Arnold (all 14), were second with 91 and Mountainview High 1, Sam Brosnahan (15), Samuel Murray (15) and Matt King (14) were 3rd with 90.
Timaru Boys High School head of social sciences Kris Martin was pleased with the outcome.
"Everything went smoothly and the kids seemed to have fun. It was really good tonight that they won. I'm very proud of them."
Organiser Ivan Behrnes said the annual event had been a huge success. The standard was high.
"Good to see Timaru Boys High win. It was a great effort. It was also good to see so many schools represented from all over the region," Mr Behrnes said.
MC Timaru Boys High School deputy director Rob Sparrow, was impressed.
"The kids are buzzing. It's gone very very well. It's a big competition to have. Kids respond to competitions like this."
The Otago Daily Times Extra! current events quiz is the third in a series of four current events quizzes that cover the South Island.
The quizzes are part of the newspaper's Class Act project, which celebrates the excellence of young people.
- Anna Geddes.