PUPILS from secondary schools across York and beyond took on the Rotary in York Technology Tournament.

They were challenged to show their concept, practical engineering and construction skills in event jointly organised by York’s three Rotary Clubs and hosted by Portakabin at their headquarters in Huntington.

The all-day event was split into three sections – foundation, intermediate and advanced and attracted 26 teams from nine local schools.

The youngsters worked in teams of four who were marked on their ‘portfolio’, design and building of a mobile crane.

Working to a strict deadline, they were expected to demonstrate their working construction to the judges at the end of the set period.

Technology tournaments such as this one are run by Rotary clubs throughout the UK and are formulated to test students’ design and technology skills engaged as a team.

Bringing their own tools, which they would use in their normal school technology lessons, they were given a detailed brief on the day to design and construct a ‘crane’.

Marks were awarded on the success of their ‘construction’ and also on a ‘portfolio – a script’ which they compile during the project detailing how they approached the task, the design and how they built it.

Certificates and medals were awarded to the three top teams in each age sector.

The Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Barbara Boyce and the civic party joined Rotary officials from all three York clubs and the Rotary District Governor (area chairman), Robert Morphet, in viewing the enterprise of the pupils throughout the day.

The teams were from:

? All Saints RC School, York,

? Ampleforth College,

? Bootham School, York,

? Fulford School, York,

? Joseph Rowntree School, York,

? Millthorpe School, York,

? Vale of York Academy (formerly Canon Lee), York

? The Mount School, York.

? Lady Lumley’s School, Pickering.

The competition winners were:

Advanced section: 1 Lady Lumley’s; 2 The Mount; 3 All Saints RC.

Intermediate: 1 Bootham; 2 Joseph Rowntree; 3 Fulford

Foundation: 1. All Saints RC; 2. Lady Lumley’s; 3. All Saints RC.

Best Portfolio: The Mount (Foundation); Bootham (Intermediate); The Mount (Advanced)