The students of Mount St. Agnes Academy maintained their impressive record in the annual inter-schools quiz competition by storming through to clinch the title on Saturday night.

But the five-member squad had to fend off a strong challenge from the Warwick Academy and Saltus Grammar School teams to win their prize.

At the halfway stage of the quiz, held at the Hamilton Princess Hotel, Mount St. Agnes were trailing in fifth place out of six, with Saltus Grammar School and Warwick Academy tied for first place, Berkeley Institute in third, CedarBridge Academy in fourth and Sandys Middle School bringing up the rear.

And, having answered questions on history and geography, sports, music arts and personalities and general knowledge and the team was still in fifth place going into the final current affairs round, trailing the leaders by 25 points.

But as the competition reached a nail-biting climax the team showed its mettle by producing a clear round to run out winners.

Mount St. Agness finished on 220 points, nudging out Saltus Grammar on 215, Warwick Academy on 210, Berkeley Institute on 200, CedarBridge Academy on 190 and Sandys on 150.

Having beaten all opposition in Thursday night's semi-final and with an impressive track record in their 12-year history of the competition, including three previous wins, seven runners-up placings and one third, the team must have been confident before the final got underway.

But school principal Sister Judith Rollo was taking nothing for granted. After her victorious team had collected their trophy from Youth and Sports Minister Dennis Lister, she said: "I am just really proud of our team.

"They did really well to come through from fifth to first in the final round.

"I'm also really grateful to our coach Pat Doyle who did a really good job.

Mr. Lister, before presenting the prizes, addressed a packed crowd of parents and students.

"Everyone here tonight is a winner,'' he said.

"Listening to the questions that were being asked I know that they were well prepared and they had taken time out and were very serious about this competition.'' As well as collecting the competition shield the winning team, consisting of Christine Simons, Erica Nason, Megan Miller, Julia Gibson, Ellison Ferreira, Paul Archer, Nick Taylor and captain Sean Hughes picked up two computers for their school as well as a collection of commemorative coins each and a luncheon.

Second placed Saltus Grammar School won a computer and commemorative coins while Warwick Academy won a $500 voucher for the school's library.