If at first you don't succeed ...
St Hilda's pupils Lauren Heng, Brianna Le and Emily Wilson could be poster children for perseverance.
After finishing second for the past four years in the Otago Daily Times Extra! spelling quiz - including an agonising one-point defeat last year - the trio finally tasted victory yesterday.
Months of swot and preparation paid off, as St Hilda's recorded a convincing 3.5-point win over Columba College in the Year 9 and 10 event, held at Otago Girls' High School.
The girls knew they had a narrow lead at the halfway point, and it was just a matter of holding their nerve.
"We were really determined this year," Brianna said.
"We really wanted to win."
Over 10 rounds, contestants were examined on spelling, comprehension, proofreading and general knowledge. St Hilda's racked up 84 points.
"Lauren is the writer because she is the neatest," Emily said.
"Brianna is really good at abbreviations and I'm good at general spelling, but we all check each other's work."
Columba College - Georgia Wong (15), Olivia Charles (14) and Chloe Heineke (14) - scored 80.5 in coming second.
Third with 76 was Bayfield - Robert Donohoe (14), Thomas McEwan (14) and Grace Togneri (14).
Some of the placings in the year 7 and 8 competition, won by Tahuna Normal Intermediate, were incorrect in yesterday's report.
Runner-up was the Columba College team of Poppy Henderson, Aliya Drake and Elloise Cameron.
Third equal were Dunedin North Intermediate's Felix Telfer, Emily Scott and Ruby Macdonald, and Balmacewen Intermediate pupils Harry Easton, Ella Cone and Thomas Brockway.
