Receptacle turned out to be Becky Pikkarainen’s nemesis.
The Grade 7 Shuswap Middle School student made it to the final round, but was the runner-up in the Kamloops Daily News Regional Canspell Spelling Bee.
She spelled “receptacle” with an “i” instead of an “a,” leaving the door open for two-time runner up Graham Abraham of Kamloops to take the top placing.
Pikkarainen matched Abraham through the 24th and 25th rounds, but in the 26th, she heard the dreaded bell.
Abraham then correctly spelled the word visualize for the win.
Pikkarainen, who celebrated her 13th birthday at the bee, was recognized as well with an enthusiastic audience rendition of Happy Birthday. Pikkarainen is eligible to try again for the title next year.