VEX Robotics the inside story 

On Thursday 10th February, Colyton Grammar School hosted the VEX Southwest Regional Tournament, a competition where teams of students design and build robots that they use to complete challenges playing against other robots in timed conditions. The competition was tough, and the teams struggled a lot in the qualifying rounds. At lunch, the qualifying teams formed alliances in pairs for the semi-finals, while everyone had a go at the Robot Skills competition, which consists of driver skills and programming skills. For each of those you have one minute to try and score as many points as possible. We were also joined by three judges and the other competing schools Uffculme and Radley. 

The event was amazing even with the competition between teams. For the Year Elevens and Thirteens, it was wonderful to get back into VEX after a long wait to compete again after lockdown and the Year Tens also had a great first time competing! 

 Team 622B (Connor W, William R, Daniel B, Ella B, Peter M, and Edward J) won the 'Design award' and the 'Driver Skills award' making the team the driver skills champion, ranking fourth in the country, and team 622A (Benjamin G, Harry L, Lucy B and Ollie B) won the 'Excellence award'. Both teams secured places at the Nationals! 

A huge thanks to Mr M Cronk for organising and hosting the Southwest Regionals and well done to 622C (Maddie R, Ollie S, Philip P, Beth M and Sam L), 622D (Jonny S, Romulus H and Benedict O), and 622E (Sian P, Henry B, Miles J and Harrison P) for competing. Congratulations to all teams who performed well, impressed the judges and had an excellent attitude. Finally, a congratulations to Radley College for achieving two tournament champions and good luck to the Year Elevens in 622B, and the Year Thirteens in 622A! 

Written by Isabella B Year 11 team member