One cold Wednesday night in December a group of keen engineers from a variety of backgrounds decided to meet at the MASC in Chelmsford and take part in the IEE Essex YMS Annual Egg Race.

Some of them came because of the posters, others did so through word of mouth that a good time would be had by all!! They didn’t know what their mission would be but they came anyway!!

What they didn’t know was that the evil egg mistress would set them an evil challenge, they entered the MASC boardroom in trepidation, sheets of plastic were laid out on the floor, tables were laid with strange bits of hardboard, drawing pins and a penknife. After some food and drink, the engineers set into teams and the challenge began.

The brave engineers had to build a machine that would launch an egg over a the huge distance of one metre, the egg had to remain intact, they were allowed to buy materials that consisted of bamboo canes, straws, drawing pins, elastic bands and paper, however the cost of these materials would be deducted from the final scores.

They set about the task, materials could only be bought at certain times of the evening and the ministry of egg throwing would change the laws throughout the challenge.

After much cursing and cries of hysteria some weird and wonderful catapulting devices were built, none of the eggs remained intact (that was a good idea to hard boil them first!!) The best of three attempts was taken for each team and the final scoring was very close, the winners were a team of Civil Engineers who liked to be known as the Omelettes. Congratulations to them.

Thank-you to everybody that took part and I hope that you will all come along again next year