Melrose Year 6 win de Putron Challenge

Held at Beau Sejour, the popular school quiz saw pupils from 15 Bailiwick primary schools attempt to answer questions covering a range of categories, including current affairs, history, maths, Stem subjects, science and geography, all while being cheered on by more than an audience of 300, comprising fellow pupils and family members.

The Melrose team, which featured Ava Abreu, 10, Sienna Battaglia, 11, and Charlotte Meades, 11, saw off competition from La Houguette, St Mary & St Michael and St Martin’s in the final round to emerge victorious. It is the first time Melrose has won the challenge.

Ava said she and her teammates worked ‘really well’ together, adding that she enjoyed the science and geography round.

‘Thinking back now I actually can’t remember any of the questions but we did well, overall it was lots of fun.’

She said the most challenging moment of the quiz came during the Stem round, when the tower they had been asked to build suddenly collapsed.

‘I was a bit worried when that happened but luckily we came back in the other rounds.’

Charlotte said her favourite category was the maths round, while Sienna said she enjoyed the history segment the most.

All three girls agreed they were looking forward to competing against the winning Jersey school – to be decided on 18 March – in the inter-island final, this year being held in Guernsey at Les Cotils on 1 April.

BBC Guernsey political reporter John Fernandez, who was returning as quizmaster for the challenge, was impressed by the team’s performance.

‘Every time they buzzed in on a question you just knew they were going to get it right, as a whole they were superb,’ he said.

He also praised the ‘electric’ atmosphere of the event.

‘The support given to the teams was fantastic, it makes it one of the highlights of the year.’

A team from Blanchelande College won the Year 8 competition.