When Helen Kent, Jessica Barton and Melanie Redding learnt this week they had won an international French writing competition, they could not help but proclaim "oh, la la".
The Columba College year 13 French language pupils were surprised by the news they had won the French as a foreign language premier section of the annual Jeunes Auteurs Pour l'Europe competition.
"We weren't expecting it," Helen said.
"We only entered the competition for a bit of fun, just to improve our French. But we had no intention of winning."
The trio spent five weeks writing a short story in French, about a family living in Soviet times who boarded a ship in Russia and emigrated to Nice.
They worked closely with Frenchman Francois Buffet, of Dunedin, who offered tuition in his native language, Helen said.
It was the second year Columba pupils had entered the competition, but it was the first time the school had won.
Columba College French teacher Elaine Kelly was delighted and proud of the girls.
"This is an international competition with people entering from all over Europe, the United States and Australia.
"Effectively, the girls have taken out the top prize in Europe.
"This is a real feather in their collective caps and a testimony to collaborative learning."
New Zealand co-ordinator for the competition Glyn Strange, of Christchurch, said this was the fourth year of participation by New Zealanders in the competition, and Columba had "fashioned an enviable record" of securing top placings every year.
The trio's entry will be published on the l'Academie Orleans-Tours website in September, just before the prizegiving in the Chateau de Chambord.
Unfortunately, they will not be attending.
