PRIZE-WINNING students argued their way to success in a three-day debating competition.

A group of sixth-formers from Dorchester’s Thomas Hardye School visited a ‘Model’ United Nations Conference and came home with both team and individual awards.

Before their trip they split into two teams and were designated as delegates from Spain and Russia.

They were briefed on which issues were up for debate and had to research solutions based on what they believed their designated country would choose.

At the conference – at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School in Borehamwood – the two teams were up against a majority of private schools but came away with second place.

The Russian team won the Distinguished Delegation award, Benjamin Smith and Beth Orrell won Best Delegate awards and Matt Huxley and Hannah Sanderson were commended for their debating skills.

Matt, 17, was a Russian delegate in the security council.

He said: “The security council only had 15 members so you did not have to rise to speak.

“That gave you more chance to speak but the level of what we said had to be higher so if you said something dumb you really got taken apart. I don’t think any of us expected to get anything like as recognised as we did.”

“You were awarded on how well you spoke and represented your country, how quick-witted you were and how quickly you answered a question.”

Beth, 17, represented Spain in human rights and had her resolution chosen for debate.

She said: “I presented my resolution and America attacked me for about half an hour. It was very formal.”

The teams debated solutions with delegates from 30 other schools and their final task was to debate solutions to a world crisis.

Ben Smith, 17, had the task of discussing disarmament for the Russian team and also had his solution chosen for debate.

He said: “I think I picked the short straw but it was not that bad “It was also about good research and being able to apply it relatively.

Rosie Dunlavey, 16, said: “It made it difficult being in a Russian team as people would attack you.

“We talked about oppression and had to defend things we felt were probably wrong but had to coherently stand up for.”

Hannah Sanderson, 16, debated the Arctic from a Russian point of view. She said: “We had to say we deserved to own all of it in a diplomatic way so our argument had to be well worded without being too controversial.” The students were taken on the trip by teachers Maria Mezzullo and Samantha Cheshire.

Miss Mezzullo said: “I think they did amazingly well considering it was their first conference.

“They researched it by themselves.

“Their knowledge was excellent and they were one of the few comprehensive schools to take part.”