YOUNG mathematicians needed to be fast on their feet as well as fast thinkers when they took part in a challenge in York.

Thirty-one schools from within a 20-mile radius of York took part in the regional finals of the exciting, and sometimes physical, maths challenge, organised by the UK Mathematics Foundation.

The Mount School, in York, played host to the competition which involved a mathematical relay race, model building and puzzle solving, as well as calculations.

The competition drew to a close as teams raced the length of the sports hall in relays to collect their questions and deliver their answers.

Pupils aged between 12 and 14, in teams, competed against each other for four hours.

The York event was organised by The Mount's head of maths, Mike Moon. He said: "It was a brilliant day. We had about 150 people there for the day and I think they all went away happy."

Schools came from across the North and West Yorkshire region including Harrogate, Knareborough, Ripon, Ryedale, Tadcaster and York.

The winning teams were Easingwold, Fulford, Harrogate Grammar and Woodhouse Grove in West Yorkshire.

They will now go through to the national final, to be held in Glasgow on July 29, to coincide with the prestigious 43rd International Mathematical Olympiad.

Updated: 11:29 Friday, May 03, 2002