Year six student James Buckingham participated in the senior section of the competition at the ABC’s Ultimo studio after he won the regional final in September.

James was part of a field of 43 and spelled his way through words like ‘moratorium’ and ‘treachery’ in what he described as a tense environment.

“Everyone was very focused and there was a lot of tension in the air,” he said.

But it was ‘wildebeest’ that eventually tripped up the 12-year-old.

“The nerves got to me and I forgot the ‘e’ after the ‘d’,” he said.

“I was satisfied with where I got to and I thought I did very well - I gained a lot of knowledge and experience.”

His mother, Sarah, said she was proud of her son.

“I think all the kids did really well, there was obviously disappointment when they got out, but it’s character building,” she said.

“I was really proud of him for getting there - apparently there were 130,000 participants, so the best 43 were all amazing.”

Words like ‘phosphoresce’ and ‘chrysanthemum’ emerged as the field thinned with Mona Vale Public School student Will Stamp eventually taking out the title. 

Rianne Pablo from Sydney’s Fort Street Public School placed second.

danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au