Kilsyth’s technological triumph

It’s a crocodile-infested river, you see, just to make things a little more tricky – and if such a dilemma should ever arise you might consider asking a Kilsyth Academy pupil.

Their team won the Advanced award in the annual Technology Tourament organised by Kilsyth Rotary with support from the Institution of Structural Engineers.

It’s a brain-teasing problem-solver which demands imagin ative but also practical solutions – and a certain aptitude with model making.

The 102 pupils taking part from nine schools thoroughly enjoyed trying to come up with the perfect way of beating that river (and its carnivorous lizards), and two Motherwell teams won two of the three award titles.

But since the event was staged in Kilsyth Academy the local team were double delighted they took top honours by winnin g the advanced title.

That meant a handsome etched glass trophy for the school, and a certificate for each team member.

Rotarian Bill Thomson, the organser, and chief judge Gordon Megahy reckoned the standard of competition was very high, doing credit to all who took part.

The contest was a little busier than expected, as the surprise arrival of a team from Biggar pushed the numbers up from 82 to 102 .

But in a contest that was all about extemporising practical solutions to tricky situations that was hardly a problem.

Altogether it was a perfect example of how practical engineering is anything but dull.