Teams of Cromwell and Alexandra school pupils rose to the top of their class by outsmarting other primary and secondary school pupils competing in the Otago Daily Times Extra! Central Otago spelling quiz held at Cromwell College last night.
About 250 pupils from schools in Queenstown, Wanaka, Arrowtown, Hawea, Cromwell, Alexandra, Clyde, Ranfurly and Roxburgh took part in the popular annual event.
Year 5 and 6 pupils started answering quiz questions in 41 teams of three from 4.30pm, with a Goldfields Primary School team from Cromwell finally emerging triumphant at the finish of the competition at 6pm.
Luke Hurdle and his sister Sarah, celebrated a home-team win with their team-mate, Bradley Ashe, taking away vouchers, medals, certificates, and a shield for answering 96 questions out of 100 correctly.
From 6.30pm until 8pm, year 7 and 8 pupils were put to the test, answering their own 100 questions in 44 teams of three.
Alexandra twins Millie and Mac Townsend were winning team members along with fellow pupil Arran McNabb.
The trio from Alexandra Primary School answered 90 out of 100 quiz questions correctly.
Parents who were watching their children were also encouraged to take part in a specially prepared quiz to help pass the time.
Year 9 and 10 pupils completed their spelling quiz at Cromwell College on Wednesday night, when a Dunstan High School team from Alexandra won that grade.
The Extra! spelling quiz will also be held at Timaru, Christchurch, and Dunedin within the next month, before an Extra! current events quiz takes place in September and October.
