A trophy is worth a thousand words for ten-year-old Jared Arnante, who came top in the Verbal Victory Bermuda Spelling Bee this weekend.

The Somersfield Academy student said he felt good that his months of studying paid off — although he admitted to some nerves towards the end of the test, when the words expanded beyond the list that competitors were provided last autumn.

Jared told The Royal Gazette, gold sponsor of the event: “The thing is that studying is not just looking at the same words over and over. It’s knowing how they work, what rules do you need to follow to spell the word.”

Asked if he had apprehensions about taking on the challenge in front of the crowded auditorium at The Berkeley Institute, Jared said: “After you do the first couple of rounds, you know what it’s like, so it’s easier.”

The competition was open to public, private and home-schooled children aged 9 to 13, with students given a list of words to learn in October.

The conclusion came after more than 20 rounds with nine students from across the island tackling increasingly difficult words — including “mnemonic”, “bougainvillea” and “lugubrious”.

The nine finalists were gradually whittled down to Jared, along with second-place winner Olivia Brown, 12, for Warwick Academy, and Samantha Hernandez, 13, coming in third for Dellwood Middle School.

Crystal Caesar, the Minister of Education, said all of the competitors should feel pride in their accomplishments.

“You each have shown amazing dedication, courage and a love of learning,” she told them.

“No matter how far you made it in the competition, just by being here you have proven that your hard work and perseverance pays off.

“Spelling is not just about memorisation. It’s about patience, discipline and believing in yourself, and on this day those qualities shone through beautifully in all of you.

“You are all champions because you dared to challenge yourselves and grow. Keep reading, keep learning and, most importantly, keep believing in yourselves.”

Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, said that while it was often easy to rely on technology, he had found the ability to write by hand and spell correctly crucial to any of his roles in life.

He added: “This is not just an exercise in learning, although it is that too. It is also about a skill that will take you through life.

“This is not wasted effort; it is really important.”

Mr Murdoch said that he — and likely most of those watching the competition — found many of the words challenging.

“It’s tough, really tough, and certainly a lot of us in the audience were going through the spellings in our heads or scribbling them down,” he said.

“I certainly didn’t get as many right as you did.”

Mr Murdoch added that it was particularly difficult for anyone to stand on a stage and get tested in such a public manner.

“Genuinely, well done,” he said. “That is the kind of skills and experience that you will take with you through the rest of your lives. Do not underestimate what you have done.”

Photo gallery