debating trophy last weekend.

The three-strong team notched up a narrow victory against Warwick Academy, debating against the motion that "this house believes that television is an invention to be regretted''.

And Nicholas Pacheco, Jennifer Rhind and Nicole Pinder picked up the Victoria Cox Memorial Trophy, which will be displayed at the school.

But Warwick Academy did not go home empty-handed -- in addition to the runners-up cup, the school's Lemar Hamme scooped the Victoria Cox Memorial Plate for the best individual performance.

Last Saturday's debating competition, which involved a total of 36 pupils from secondary schools across the Island, was organised by the Bermuda Junior Service League and held at the Bermuda College.

Competition committee chairman Mrs. Sue Bartlett said after the event: "It's been wonderful. Everything ran on time and we had a great response from the schools.

"And a lot of parents came out to support their children, which was good to see.'' She added that the standard of debating had improved since the competition started six years ago.

"The young people have just got better and better and it's very valuable experience,'' she said.

Mrs. Elizabeth Virgo, of the Bermuda Debate Society, was one of the five judges for the final.

And she predicted it would not be long before Bermuda made a major impact in world debating competitions for schools.

She said: "Bermuda is taking great strides forward and we are fast moving up the ranks -- I would hope we make the quarter-finals of the world championships before very long.'' A TV crew was on hand to capture the cut and thrust of the day and the results will be shown on VSB at 8 p.m. tonight.

EDUCATION ED