A COLLEGE in Basingstoke played host to a technology tournament after four years of hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The event at Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) was put on by Basingstoke Loddon Rotary to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists. 

Secondary school pupils in groups of four were tasked to solve an interactive technology-based challenge by designing, developing, and building a solution using the materials supplied.

This year's challenge was to design and build a coin-separating machine.

Divided into three groups – foundation, intermediate, and advanced – the 12 teams from schools and colleges from the area competed in the tournament.

Six teams were from the foundation level, four in the intermediate level, and two in the advanced level.

Basingstoke Gazette: Mayor Paul Miller and mayoress Sandra Miller watch the Lord Wandsworth Foundation team 2 demonstrate their coin separating machineMayor Paul Miller and mayoress Sandra Miller watch the Lord Wandsworth Foundation team 2 demonstrate their coin separating machine (Image: Contributed)

Basingstoke Gazette: The Mayoress Sandra Miller watches the winning Foundation team Lord Wandsworth team 1 demonstrate their MachineThe Mayoress Sandra Miller watches the winning Foundation team Lord Wandsworth team 1 demonstrate their Machine (Image: Contributed)

Rotary members with backgrounds in engineering, technology, and design from local Rotary Clubs judged the tournament. The teams produced a portfolio of drawings and information about their designs, and trophies were awarded to the teams that produced the best portfolio.

The winning teams were Lord Wandsworth Team 1 for the foundation portfolio, Robert May's Team 1 for the intermediate overall winners, and BCoT Team 2 for the advanced overall winners.

Basingstoke Gazette: The intermediate winning team Robert May’s team 1 with Basingstoke and Deane mayor councillor Paul Miller and Rotary district governor Bill Casey.The intermediate winning team Robert May’s team 1 with Basingstoke and Deane mayor councillor Paul Miller and Rotary district governor Bill Casey. (Image: Contributed)

Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Cllr Paul Miller, and Rotary district 1110 governor, Bill Casey, presented the trophies to the winning teams.

Mr Casey thanked BCoT principal Anthony Bravo for the hospitality and help with the tournament and congratulated him for the recent outstanding Ofsted report.

The technology tournament successfully brought together young minds and industry experts to inspire the next generation to innovate and push the boundaries of technology.