outsparring much larger countries from around the world.

New Zealand, the over-all champion, and Israel, a quarter-finalist, were among teams the students from Bermuda defeated in the 7th World Schools Debating Championship.

"We left there very much respected by the other teams, and that was my goal,'' said coach Mr. Gladstone Thompson, a teacher at Berkeley Institute.

"I was extremely pleased.'' After losing its first debate, Bermuda beat Israel, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Italy in a round robin to finish 12th over-all in the 19-team competition. It was Bermuda's best-ever result.

Mr. Thompson said the opening loss to Canada was in fact a confidence builder for the team, made up of Miss Jennifer Burland of Bermuda High School, Mr.

Collin Anderson of Berkeley, Miss Selena Mello of Saltus Grammar, and Mr.

Nicholas Pacheco of Mount St. Agnes.

Canada has a strong debating tradition, but beat Bermuda in a split decision, Mr. Thompson said. "That gave us great hope. That defeat made us pull ourselves together and try really, really hard.

"From then on, we had a measure of success.'' Mr. Anderson, 16, who missed the opening debate because of stomach flu, said Wales was similar to Bermuda in many respects and "the people were so friendly throughout the whole trip I didn't feel like I was in a foreign country''.

Competing internationally for the first time, he initially struggled with self-doubt, but "after the first or second debate I really felt comfortable,'' Mr. Anderson said. "At that point I realised I was a world debater and my whole outlook in the competition changed.

"I realised I'd done a lot of work and I couldn't go back thinking I didn't do a good job.'' He made friends from Germany, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and the United States, and picked up debating pointers from some of his competitors.

Aside from the contest, a highlight for Mr. Anderson was a visit to Atlantic College in Wales, which he hopes to attend after graduating from Berkeley. He also enjoyed being billeted with the parents of Mr. Peter Kellam, one of the contest's organisers.

"Dinner is a lot more emphasised,'' said Mr. Anderson, who sampled Welsh lamb, Welsh cakes, and a variety of cheeses. "Dinner would take hours. We would eat and eat and eat and everyone would talk.

"After dinner we would have our tea. It was a very social event.'' "We're very proud of them,'' said Bermuda Debate Society vice-chairman Mrs.

Elizabeth Virgo, who accompanied the team. She returned from Wales with an accolade of her own, having been chosen as one of seven international judges to decide the exciting final match between New Zealand and Scotland, which the Kiwis won 4-3.

Bermuda, which is to host the world championship in 1997, is now setting its sights on next year's contest in Australia.

Mr. Anderson wanted to thank the Bermuda Debate Society and all the team's sponsors.

Since Bermuda's top students leave the Island to attend college, the Island's 16-year-old debaters are a year or two younger than most of the foreign students they are matched against.

Only Miss Burland had prior international experience, having taken part in the 1994 championships in New Zealand, where Bermuda finished 11th out of 12 teams.

Everyone debated in English. Other competitors included Australia, England, France, Ireland, Lithuania, Pakistan, Singapore, and Spain.

WELL DONE! -- Bermuda's debating team which just returned from Wales (left to right) Mr. Collin Anderson, Miss Selena Mello, coach Mr. Gladstone Thompson, Miss Jennifer Burland and Mr. Nicholas Pacheco. After losing its first debate, Bermuda beat Israel, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Italy in a round robin to finish 12th over-all in the 19-team competition. It was Bermuda's best-ever result. Bermuda, which is to host the world championship in 1997, is now setting its sights on next year's contest in Australia.