Brockenhurst Students build giant marble run

The challenge was thought up by the lecturers and students were invited to take part. The students were split into teams and given a brief detailing the materials and tools available to them including guttering, wood and ‘giant marbles' - French boules!

The teams set to work designing their runs and spent the afternoon building and testing their designs. The competition concluded with a final testing by judge Lecturers John Patterson and Bernard Larking who timed each marble run and awarded addition points for special features including raising flags and lifting the boule up at least 1000mm.

The winning team; Adam Jellicoe, Aaron Jeneson, Josh McMahon, Jamie Thomas, Jed Yarney and Sophie Oliver scored a total 52 points for their colourful and intricate marble run design and each received a small trophy and special edition silver boule.

Winning Team Leader, Jamie Thomas said: "It has been a really worthwhile and fun day. It has definitely helped us to develop our team building and communication skills along with putting our technology and engineering knowledge into practice."

Lecturer and judge, John Patterson said: "The students really enjoyed the challenge, with a lot of ingenious ideas and creativity on the side. The winning team had definitely made the most effort in terms of looks and a very interesting design and route."