Comments (0)PrintEmail

St. Clare's students are racing ahead

The Quinn Cam team from St. Clare's College, Ballyjamesduff, who are taking part in the F1 Schools Technology Challenge finals on April 29 in Dublin; (from left) Tommie Doyle, design engineer; Marius Carstens, team manager; Donna Smith, marketing and communication manager; Daniel Majola, resource manager and Cata Melia, graphic design.

Five students from St. Clare's College, Ballyjamesduff, will be endeavouring to create a little bit of history when they take part in the national final of the F1 Schools Technology Challenge.

The students will be hoping to lift the overall title when they compete against 27 others school in the final at Griffith College, South Circular Road, Dublin, on Thursday, April 29. The winning team will represent Ireland at the World Championships 2011 and compete against 32 other countries.

Over the last three years, the school has come perilously close to gaining a top three finish but this year they hope to achieve it. The F1 team consists of Tommie Doyle, Marius Carstens, Donna Smith, Daniel Majola and Cata Melia. Tommie is a fifth year student and Marius, Donna, Daniel and Cata are Transition Year students. Last year, the team was known as "Bolt" but this year they are "Quinn Cam" a play on twin cam as well as in recognition of their main sponsor the Quinn Group.

St. Clare's have tasted success at the national finals previously having won best website and on another occasion took second place for marketing and sponsorship and in 2008 they were joint first for ICT and CAD. Tony Doyle, woodwork teacher, said they hope to capitalise on previous errors to make the all important break through into the top three.

"F1 in Schools is a competition, open to all secondary schools, to design and manufacture compressed air-powered racing cars. Student teams compete against each other to determine the best-engineered and fastest car in Ireland," explained Mr. Doyle.

F1 in Schools enables second-level students to get their hands on the latest technology from the worlds of engineering and manufacturing, he added. "Competitors have an exciting educational experience, expressing their creativity, skills and team working ability in a fun and positive way."

Tony is delighted that the Quinn Group is supporting them this year and has put up a number of prizes for the team to raffle. Tickets cost €2 each or a book of three for €5. First prize is a weekend or two in the Slieve Russell Hotel or Buswells in Dublin or the choice of two other hotels in England. Second and third prizes are rounds of golf in the Slieve Russell.

Mr. Doyle is also indebted to their other sponsors - Cooper Insulation, Greene's Pharmacy, Safety Solutions, and Auto Tech who have also supplied the car and given advice on it as well.

They are aware of the standard that is required to be success as last year's winners Team Koni Kats from Greystones in Wicklow went on to win the World Tile.

Marius Carstens who is originally from South Africa is team manager and manufacturing engineer; Tommie Doyle, design engineer, who was also a member of last year's team said they were devoted to competing at the highest level in the competition. "Things have been going well for us and we hope to go further on this occasion."

The team is aware that they face stiff opposition but as Tommie says: "We are confident of taking away a national title."

They have being putting in twelve hours a week and carrying out work over the Easter holidays, after school and even at weekends.

Donna Smith looks after developing the team marketing and general sponsorship. "We are lucky that the Quinn Group has come on board as our main sponsor but we are also appreciated the support from out other sponsors as well without whom we could not continue."

Daniel Majola is also from South Africa is resource manager who organises the materials and equipment for the designing and making of the car; while Cata Carstens is the graphic designer with responsibility for designing the team logo, plus colour scheme.

The team agrees that they owe a huge debt of gratitude to both Tony and Colm Mitchell, metal work teacher, for their help, support and assistance in the development of the car. Each car is made from the same size of balsa wood, and the minimum weight is 55g.

Each school submits a five-page plan of its project and emails its design. In the recent regional finals, Quinn-Cam had the fastest model there covering the 20m track in 1.16 seconds.

Tony points out that the standard is extremely high in Ireland as proven by the Wicklow win in the World Title. He expected this year's representative from Tipperary to go very close as well.

St. Clare's is the only school from Cavan or Monaghan taking part from this region in this year's national finals. Their participation over the past few years should stand them in good stead and they could be crowned national champions on April 29.