A NEW generation of whiz-kids were today celebrating accumulating nearly a quarter of a million pounds in a brief stint of stock market trading at the Royal York Hotel.

Starting with £35,000 of "virtual" cash, a winning team of five pupils from Ripon College took only two hours to make a substantial return on their portfolio.

They were one of 25 teams from schools across North Yorkshire who got a taste of the trading floor when Wall Street came to York last Friday in the first-ever Stock Market Challenge for Schools.

Year 10 pupils from across the region took part in the event, which was sponsored by Norwich Union and supported by NYBEP.

Ripon College was victorious with a portfolio value of £235,800. The runner-up was Lowfield School, in York, with £207,900, and in third placed was Tadcaster Grammar, with £204,100. The winning team was presented with a trophy and individual prizes. The first, second and third schools will receive cheques for £1,000, £500 and £250 from Norwich Union.

At the event, five virtual days of trading were condensed into two hours, with teams dealing in shares on a live trading floor, staffed by volunteers from Norwich Union.

Each team began with £35,000 and the winner was the team with the highest total value of shares, euros and cash at the close of trading.

As well as giving young people an insight into what it is like to deal on a live trading floor, the event formed part of pupils' wider business and careers education.

Updated: 11:35 Monday, November 29, 2004