of an international event.

"So far we have debated South Africa, Hong Kong, and Slovenia,'' team captain Jordon Zancanella told The Royal Gazette last night.

"We won all three debates. We won all the first two unanimously, and the last one we lost one vote.'' Jordon and team-mates Eli Lipschultz, Ryan Marshall, Ruth O'Kelly Lynch, Tesche Patterson, and Kalilah Robinson left for London last week to participate in the World Debate Championships.

And Gladstone Thompson, the team coach also currently in England, said the team had performed extremely well.

"We have a lot more content and therefore our strategy was pulled together a lot more easily,'' he said.

"The kids have had a lot of extra work,'' he added. "There's no substitute for hard work and it's all paying off.'' Jordon said the team was in high spirits after their unanimous victories against South Africa and Hong Kong, and a split decision win against Slovenia.

The successful crew has already argued against legalising performance enhancing drugs in sports, and that the International Criminal Court will not work.

And they defeated Slovenia in an impromptu debate against government censorship.

Today the teenagers will go up against Greece and Singapore, in unprepared and prepared debates.

David Saul, president of the Bermuda Debate Society warned Singapore would be especially hard to beat.

"Singapore will be difficult because they pride themselves on their education system. They are very good and very fluent in English.'' But he pointed out the team's earlier win in the impromptu debate was a significant victory.

And if the team wins the next two rounds they will qualify for the quarter finals, he added.

There are a total of 31 teams in the international event, but the defending champions from Australia remain the favourites to win.

Bermuda placed ninth overall last year after being edged out of the finals by one point.

But Jordon remains confident that this could be Bermuda's year.

"I'm putting my confidence in my team,'' he said. "I think we have a chance to make it into the playoffs.'' WINNING WAYS -- Bermuda's National Debate team is: (L-R) Jordan Zancanella, Ryan Marshall, Eli Lipschultz, Ruth O'Kelly-Lynch, Tara Kessaram, and coach Gladstone Thompson.