2013 Results

On October 26th 2013 at the N.E.M.S. open meccano show in Darlington three local schools showed their models that they had been building in their lunch time and play time for approximately the last six weeks. Each school was given 6 number 10 model sets to build from. The 3 schools involved were

• Deaf Hill              Trimdon
• Vane Road          Aycliffe
• Wheatley Hill     Wheatley Hill

Hopefully this will be the start of an annual event, and hopefully will start to include more schools each year. As already we have been approached by more interested parties

Things got off to a slow start but after a few worrying minutes the models started to arrive. The judging was done by two of the club member's Joe Etheredge and Barry Richardson. Joe had also compiled the judging sheets. These were based on,

• 1.  is the model from an instruction manual or a manual with limited instructions (only photo)?
• 2.  technical difficulty,
• 3.  finish detail,
• 4.  correct use of parts,
• 5.  correct use of nuts and bolts.

When all the judging was in and counted there was an outright winner, this was Deaf Hill school with 409 points followed by Vane Road with 251 points and Wheatley Hill with 231 points. These scores could have been a lot closer if all the kits that were given out were made up in full or showed as a unfinished model as these would have still earned some points. Five or six of the children from the Deaf Hill school made up some models from 1960/70's plastic meccano and showed them in the open junior section of the show

• 1.  first prize went to Megan with a trike
• 2  second went to Tyler who made a model of a minion from despicable me.
• 3  Samuel and William working together made various model's but the one that took the judges eye was of a roundabout.

The judging for the junior section was kindly done by Bob Seaton and each of the three participating schools received small trophies for 1st 2nd and 3rd places within their school, and Deaf Hill school won the perpetual trophy which they will keep at their school until next years show.

The children all enjoyed their visit to St Cuthbert's hall and were pleased to receive a certificate of achievement. We have received some positive feedback from some of the school teachers and parents of the children involved and they are all looking forward to their next challenge.