Students at CedarBridge Academy were awarded top marks at the weekend when they stole the show of the 13th Bermuda Junior Service League (BJSL) Debate Tournament.

Pupils Zahra Muhammed, Jade Ingham and Tricray Astwood captured the Victoria Cox Memorial Trophy for their school after winning the final round of the senior debates.

But it was a double triumph for CedarBridge after Zahra also picked up the award for the top individual debater of the senior school students.

Bermuda High School for Girls (BHS) were runners-up in the senior section, while Mount St. Agnes were top of the middle schools, again followed by BHS.

The middle school champions were Meredith Pugh, Cassandra Matcham and Stephanie Gibson.

About 100 secondary school students participated in the annual event as debaters, speakers and timers, along with 42 members of the community, who had been trained by the Bermuda Debate Society.

And attending the final round and prize giving was Premier Jennifer Smith, who has been heavily involved in the tournament since its inception 13 years ago.

Schools that took part were Dellwood, Sandys, and Clearwater Middle schools, BHS, CedarBridge, Mount St. Agnes, Warwick Academy and Saltus Grammar.

But the story of the day was that CedarBridge Academy outshone the others to walk away with the top prizes.

Susan Behrens, cochairman/co-chairmen of the BJSL debate committee, said all of the teams did extremely well.

"We were thrilled by the team entries this year, with the middle schools especially coming on strong," she said.

"The BJSL debate tournament was designed as an opportunity for Bermuda's teenagers to interact and compete in a nonathletic forum.

"Yesterday's (Saturday's) tournament showed how successful a programme it is. The school spirit, enthusiasm and genuine consideration for each other is unparalleled; not to mention the very impressive debating skills.

"We are very proud of all of these young people. They are to be congratulated."

Ms Behren's said the commitment shown by the Premier meant more to the students and the BJSL than they could adequately express.

And other public figures taking part were United Bermuda Party MPs John Barritt and Tim Smith, who are president and vice-president of the debate society.

Government MPs Randy Horton, and Sen. Colonel David Burch were also in attendance.

Caitlin Collis, from BHS, won the prize for the top individual debater of the middle school section, and Maya Beckles, of BHS, won the top individual senior debater for the impromptu section.

The award for the most outstanding team of coaches went to Linda Parker, Lisa DeSilva and Catherine Matthews, of CedarBridge.

The outstanding middle school coach was Lisa Rhind, of Mount St. Agnes.