HUNDREDS of York youngsters are gearing up for York Rotary Club's annual schools technology tournament.

The Rotary Technology Tournament, organised by the three York Rotary Clubs at the National Railway Museum (NRM) on Tuesday, March 11, is all set to challenge the skills of young York students.

This fourth all-day tournament held in the city during National Science and Engineering Week has so far attracted 44 teams from 14 York schools and it is hoped more will come forward to take part.

Teams of four students working against the clock will undertake to design, build and demonstrate publicly a practical solution to a technology problem. In total more than 200 pupils are expected to take part.

The tasks will be set at basic, intermediate and advanced levels all conforming to elements in the National Curriculum. All the materials required to meet the challenge will be provided by the three Rotary Clubs.

Dick Hubbard, the Rotary project coordinator, said: "There has been a great response and most of the appropriate York schools have again entered one or more teams. There is still an opportunity for new schools to take part and I forecast we'll have a full house on the March 11.

"The competitive spirit is very evident and the atmosphere in the station hall of the museum is electric as we get near to the final judging.

"We are extremely fortunate in York to have such an appropriate venue and we are very grateful to the NRM for the use of the facilities - our Rotary colleagues in other parts of Yorkshire are very envious. The great thing for the pupils and teachers is that no preparation or homework is necessary and the participants are all playing on a level pitch. So the more entrants the better."

Andrew Scott, director of the NRM, said: "I'm delighted the Rotary clubs are holding the annual schools tournament at the NRM.

"It is an important part of our extensive programme of hands-on activities during Science Week, which includes the ever popular Cab It and three Discovery Days jam-packed with scientific fun.

"This year the theme of the ten day city-wide festival is Engineering the Future and I'm confident that many of the hundreds of youngsters taking part in the Rotary tournament will be attracted to a future engineering career."

Trophies will be awarded to the winning teams in each category and all participants will be given a personalised certificate.

Schools interested in taking part can find details and application forms on line at www.yorkvikingsrotary.org.uk or can contact Neville Pinkney, schools liaison officer, on 01904 491446.

The tournament costs are met by sponsorship from Shepherd Building Group, North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership and Northern Rail.