Technology Tournament 2012

Rotary Technology Tournament

Once again the Rotary Young Technology tournament, sponsored by BAE Systems, has taken place in Windermere with Penrith teams acquitting themselves very well.

Both of the Penrith senior schools normally enter teams, but sadly a late rescheduling of the event meant that Ullswater Community College was unable to take part. So two teams from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School found themselves representing both the town of Penrith as well as QEGS in a closely fought competition against other Cumbrian schools.

Team tasks were to construct a working coin sorter that would sort different coins into their same value groups and display the total value of each group. The coin sorter had to be decorated with a charity theme.  All construction had to be done in accordance with instructions; the first hour was devoted to design options and production plans.

Initial reticence in the competition room soon gave way to frantic cutting, sawing and drilling, against a background of excited conversation among team members. The Penrith Foundation team, 13-14 year olds, comprised Ewan Harkes and Luke Morris from Penrith with Alex Watson from Hackthorpe. The four members of the Intermediate team, 14- 15 years olds, were Liam Woof, Penrith, Laureen Goodson, Shap, Ian Oliver Kirkoswald and Jack Ellis from Newton Reigny.

The judging took place in the afternoon with each team having to demonstrate their working model in front of the audience.  The Penrith contingent, competitors and Rotarians alike, gave a huge cheer when the QEGS Intermediate team was called forward to receive second prize in their category.

Malcolm Boyd, Rotary President commented,