Darcy Road Public School student Trilok Shenoy is the winner of the 2023 Premier’s Spelling Bee senior final, where ‘croquembouche’ beat out ‘plenipotentiary’.

Audience members were on the edge of their seats as the Year 6 student went head-to-head with Epping Public School’s Aditya Paul, also Year 6, over an impressive 12 rounds.

Trilok, an avid reader, attributed his win to recognising most of the day’s words.

“I read a lot of fiction, nonfiction and books about math and physics,” he said.

“The only word that tripped me up was acidophilus. I don’t think I’ve read it before.”

Aditya’s strategy was to spell out the words in the palm of his hand.

“When you write it out, you know what you’re going to say,” he said.

“I think with spelling, it’s a better strategy to learn what the words mean, than to memorise the words.”

Last year’s junior winner, Saarth Deo from Castle Hill Public School, also competed in the senior final and placed in the top three.

From dessert to main course, it was a love of pasta that won Maya Thiruchelvam the junior spelling bee final.

The Year 4 student from Hamilton South Public School was a first-time spelling bee competitor and won with the word ‘tortellini’.

Maya said she practised spelling most nights.

“I just pictured the word in my mind – that’s what I usually do – because I’ve probably read it in a book somewhere, and then I pretend it’s written down and I can spell from what I’m picturing,” she said.

Maya’s parents said they were delighted with their daughter’s victory and believed her spelling talent was down to a love of reading.

“Maya reads a lot, so she’s constantly learning new words,” her mother Thilini said.

This year’s youngest competitor was Year 2 student Jay-Hanz Mesa from Cabramatta Public School.

Although he tripped up on the word ‘naïve’ early in the competition, he said he was proud to make it to the finals.

“It feels pretty good to be in the final. I didn't know I was the only one in Year 2 until today. It is exciting," Jay-Hanz said.

“I didn’t know I was a very good speller until I went in the inter-school spelling bee and did well.

“Competing in the competitions is fun and I like spelling words at school and trying my best. If I do well, I get a present from Mum.”

Deputy Premier Prue Car and NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar stopped in to watch the junior final and chat with the young competitors.

“It’s wonderful to see the Premier’s Spelling Bee has struck such a chord with primary school children across the state,” Ms Car said.

“Getting our children interested in the lifelong skills of reading and spelling is a wonderful achievement, and it’s great to see this competition going strong after 20 years.”