Warwick Academy spun a last-round flourish into gold, unseating defending champions Mount St. Agnes Academy to capture for the first time Bermuda's National Quiz crown on Saturday night.

Paced by a solid knowledge of Island news events, Warwick Academy's 14-year-old corps of Taylor Heyliger, Hayley Simons, Ronald Furbert, Jennifer Young, led by 13-year-old captain Jay Butler, rung up 20 unanswered points to outscore the two-time champs 240-230, and spoil Mount St. Agnes' "three-peat'' championship bid.

For their efforts Warwick Academy hauled home two personal computers donated by Bermuda Computer Services and the Argus Group of Companies, as well as other loot donated by sponsors The Royal Gazette , Meyer Agencies, The Bermuda Electric Light Company, John Barritt and Sons, and the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

About 250 spectators gathered in the Princess Ballroom at the Hamilton Princess to catch the 12th annual showdown, which also included teams from Saltus Grammar, Sandys Secondary and Warwick Secondary. The proceedings, hosted by Youth and Sport Director Brenton Roberts and ZBM's Vicki Abrahams, was also broadcast live.

Throughout most of the contest it looked like Mount St. Agnes was again going to hang onto the hardware.

The team of Sarah Lusher, Kristin DiGiacomo, Margot Lombardo, Sean Kelly, and Catherine Leith clung tenaciously to a slim lead throughout the evening, sharing top spot with Saltus only at the end of round three.

Heading into round five Mount St. Agnes had regained five points on Saltus; Warwick Academy meanwhile trailed by ten.

Then came current events.

With all teams drawing a blank on the first question -- "Which piece of legislation did MP Ann Cartwright DeCouto compare with hunting (Anti-stalking Bill) -- nothing it seemed could be taken for granted.

"We got lucky,'' captain Butler yesterday told The Royal Gazette . "As the other teams lost questions we just picked them up in the rotation. That's where we got our points.'' Round five also included some of the more classic one-liners. Saltus Grammar's Eli Lipschultz -- pondering the question of who was the top UK Police official to recently tour the Island -- brought the house down with a reply of Sherlock Holmes.

The Warwick Academy team, coached by geography teacher Mr. David Senior, and backed up by alternate Melissa Trott, said twice-weekly practices and consistent reading of the newspaper gave them the edge this year.