Calcutta, July 5 :    Calcutta, July 5:  In a near-repeat of their performance last month in the Madhaymik examination, districts have outshone Calcutta in the continuing battle of the brains by grabbing a large chunk of the higher secondary merit list. The results announced today reveal that of the 27 students on the merit list, 19 are from the districts and only eight from Calcutta, five of them from South Point school alone. Nineteen-year-old Ayan Paul of Howrah was the arrowhead of the district schools' race for glory, securing the first position and causing jubilation and near hysteria in the district which had last thrown up a topper in the long-abolished matriculation examination 50 years ago. Ayan, a government clerk's son who went to Howrah Zilla school, achieved the coveted rank with 955 marks, showing a dramatic improvement on his 10th position in the Madhaymik examination of 1999. Saugata Basu of South Point school with 950 marks came second. Debasatyam Pal of Alipurduar high school, who stood 17th in Madhyamik two years ago, annexed the third position with 945 marks which, he said, would further motivate him to realise his dream of becoming a filmmaker. The two are not the sole examples of Madhyamik toppers continuing to blaze a trail of glory in higher secondary. Barring Suman Karmakar, the first rank-holder in Madhyamik 1999, many have moved up the merit list. Four of the 17 Madhyamik 1999 toppers who had held the first 10 ranks between themselves secured prominent positions on this year's higher secondary merit list. For instance, Tanusree Nath, the holder of the eighth rank two years ago, has improved her position to seventh to become the first among girls. Only Karmakar and Arnab Sen, the third rank-holder in Madhyamik 1999, suffered a setback in terms of their positions. Taking the examination from BT Road Government-sponsored HS school, Karmakar ended up in the 10th position. Although district schools almost monopolised the merit list, Calcutta students had the highest success rate of 74.73 per cent. Compared with last year, fewer candidates have achieved star marks and secured first division.