The 'Beast'

On the 16th of March me (Sophie), Alannah, Ben and Hayden went to Mowden Hall School for a maths competition.

We met in the reception buzzing with excitement; we were ready. Piling into the taxi, we chatted about anything other than the competition. We were fine as we started the journey—we had a lot to talk about. But, as we neared Mowden Hall, we went silent. Tension was building. We had arrived.

We entered anxiously, then Mowden children led us to our waiting station. After what seemed like hours, we were taken to their gym to start our task; a bridge building challenge. Once we had come up with the design for the bridge, we started to work. Wrapping the art straws with paper, our bridge got bigger and bigger. We called it ‘The Log’ but others called it  ‘The Beast’. Everything was going according to plan. But when we started carefully placing weights on the bridge in front of the large audience, one slipped off. That was the end for us!

After lunch, we set off for the main event; the maths challenge. We had to split into pairs and I was partnered with Hayden. The rules were explained. We were given a sheet and must run up  and down to the desk at the front to get our answers marked in tasks one and two. In task three we got our answers  marked and had to collect each question in turn. Confidence soaring, we flew through the tasks. We knew we had done well. We thought we might even get third out of the thirty teams! As the winners were revealed, we said a prayer. Fourth came and went, then third was gone. We sighed, that was our chance. But when second was called it was our names! Hayden and I were second and Ben and Alannah ninth. We came home proud, with a pink calculator as a prize!

By Sophie, Year 6