STUDENTS from Skipton, Settle, Otley and Ilkley took part in a hands-on competition aimed at testing their design and technology skills.

The Rotary Dales Group 'Youth Technology Tournament' for secondary school pupils was held for the first time since 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic and saw students challenged to design and make a working scale model of a vehicle able to carry relief supplies from one side of a ravine to the other.

A total of 18 teams from Settle College, Giggleswick School, Ermysted’s Grammar School, Skipton, Ilkley Grammar School, Ilkley and Prince Henry’s School in Otley across three age groups took part in the tournament which took place at Gargrave Village Hall.

A spokesperson for the rotary clubs in the Dales group said: "The aim of the competition was to test the design and technology skills of the students. To do this, they were all given a set of equipment each and a brief of what they had to build within an allotted time.

"This year’s challenge was to build a working scale model of a vehicle which could carry relief supplies, a Rotary Shelterbox on a zip wire over a ravine. At the end of the allotted time the vehicles were tested on a scale model of the river area to determine if it had been built successfully and had met the brief. The students also had to produce written plans and diagrams to shown their design specifications."

The spokesperson added: "Judges from the rotary clubs in Settle, Skipton, Ilkley and Otley were on hand to observe the work done from start to finish and to watch the testing of each team’s vehicle as they attempted to take the small scale Shelterbox across the ravine.

"At the end of a very enjoyable day, at which all the students who’s ages ranged from 12 to 18 years old, great skill had been shown by all the teams."

The winners in each age category were: Key Stage 3: 1- Ilkley Grammar School team 2; 2 - Ermysted’s; 3 - Prince Henry’s Grammar school. Best Design Portfolio - Prince Henry’s Grammar School Key Stage 4: 1 - Settle College; 2 - Ermysted’s; 3 - Prince Henry’s Grammar School. Best Design Portfolio - Ermysted’s Key Stage 5: 1 - Giggleswick School team 2; 2 - Prince Henry’s Grammar School; 3 - Giggleswick School team 1. Best Design Portfolio - Ilkley Grammar School.