It was an emotional goodbye to Central Otago from current events quiz organisers last night at their last jaunt running the competition in the region.
Otago Daily Times Extra! quiz co-ordinators Ivan and Ann Behrnes were farewelled by teachers and years 9 and 10 pupils from across wider Central Otago at Cromwell College.
The pair have run current events and spelling quizzes in the region annually for 15 years.
Mr Behrnes said it was "very emotional" for the pair to be ending their tenure.‘‘I think we’ve had over 100,000 kids comes through this competition. It’s been such a pleasure and we’ve met some great kids and teachers.
"This was always one of our favourite regions to hold the quiz in."
He will step down as editor of the school newspaper at the end of the year and his replacement will take over running future quizzes.
The school auditorium was filled with 32 teams from six schools for the competition, all testing their knowledge of people, places and world events.
A Wakatipu High School team comprising of Jasmine Crichton, Om Alva and Alexander Bailey burst in front with 89 out of 100 points, 10 points ahead of the next team.
Om said the team did not expect to win.
"We actually thought we did really badly."
While quick bursts of energy from bags of lollies were a common pick-me-up at the quiz, theirs was a proudly sugar-free team, he said.
Jasmine said the only practice she had was talking to her dad on the drive over.
"He said heaps of stuff and a lot of it happened to be in the quiz. I was like, ‘Thanks Dad’."
Om and Alexander were no strangers to success in the Extra! quizzes, having both twice won the paper’s spelling competition.
Dunedin schools will get their turn next week.
• We are aware a comment in a report on the Extra! current events quiz in yesterday’s ODT may have caused offence to some people. That was not the intention. The newspaper encourages all who participate in the Extra! quizzes and congratulates all place-getters.
