Three students have been crowned top spellers in the first round of the Bermuda Spelling Bee ahead of the finals next month.

The competition featured pupils aged 9 to 13 from public schools, private schools and home schooling.

It tested cognitive, literacy and life skills alongside children’s spelling comprehension.

The semi-finals had youngsters from 26 of the island’s schools take part.

They were held on February 2, with the eastern region semi-finals at CedarBridge Academy, the central region semi-finals at The Berkeley Institute and the western region semi-finals at the Bermuda College.

Skanda Sarvanan, from Harrington Sound Primary School in Hamilton Parish, took first place in the eastern region.

Jared Arnante, from Somersfield Academy in Devonshire, was second in the region, while Conor Lim, also from Somersfield, came third.

George Morris, from Dellwood Middle School in Pembroke, was first in the central region competition, while Samantha Hernandez, also from Dellwood, came second.

Eli Oduntan, from Saltus Grammar School in Pembroke, came third.

Olivia Brown, from Warwick Academy, won the western region competition, while Shane Gilbert, from Dalton E. Tucker Primary School in Southampton, came second.

Leyana Williams, also from Warwick Academy, placed third for the west.

The finals are set for March 8, with the top three from the semi-finals taking part.