News & Events

Tavistock College’s new Greenpower Formula 24 racing team had a fantastic day of racing at Newquay Airport on 18th June. The event involves teams of 11-16 year olds who have to compete in at least one regional heat and finish in the top three to automatically qualify for the International Final held in October at Rockingham Motor Speedway. The event challenges youg people to design racing carts, all using the same, sustainable electric motor.

Tavistock College’s electric endurance race car was solely built by a team of talented Years 8, 9 and 10 students (aged 12-15) as an extracurricular project: Jack Kelly, Jack Kerswill, Erin Bolding, Tom Harrison, Bryce Lovell, Ben Anning and Sebastian Hennessy-Dobbs.
The race track, which was several kilometres long, gave the different teams some fantastic racing experience over two 90 minute endurance races. Cars ranged in design dramatically and throughout the day the students discussed how they would improve their car by shedding weight here and there, changing gear ratios, tweaking aerodynamics and all manner of other engineering decisions.

Pete Keegan, who launched the project at the college, commented: “What was noticeable with our team is it was the students who were tweaking the car’s performance, fixing problems and thinking fast to get issues resolved. I am so proud of their achievement and how they have developed in this last year. They have transformed from a group of kids into young passionate engineers.”

In the first race the students secured an impressive 9th place out of 20 cars. This is a superb achievement for our first time entering a ‘Greenpower’ event. In the second race the students clawed their way up to 8th place and then suffered a broken chain and had to be recovered. Some fast thinking, cool heads and swift spanner work and the team had the car back out to complete a final lap and finish 11th. The students were absolutely beaming after the day’s racing.

“Seeing the variety of cars and engineering involved was awe inspiring. We have been building our car, ‘Mad Max Racing’, for about six months and we have really learnt a great deal in that time. However, the amount we learnt on the day was incredible and we are full of ideas for developing the car further,” said Tom Harrison. Mr Keegan and Mr Moore are going to recruit a new team in the autumn term which will be open for all year 8 and 9 students to apply. This new team will need to fund raise and seek sponsorship in order to raise the necessary funds from the project as the current team did and are still doing in order to keep making these incremental improvements to their car. Special thanks to our sponsors, Tavistock Round Table and the Tavistock Lyons Club for supporting the project from the start.

Y8 athletes took part in Plymouth and West Devon championships at Brickfields on Tuesday 16t June.

A team of 7 made up from 5 girls and 2 boys from Year 8. Girls were Leah Parnell-Moses (100m & High Jump/relay) Emily Frost (200m/relay) Mia Cole (200m/relay) Izzy Hiller (long jump) Sophie Isaacs (Shot)

Boys Gabriel Schraibman (100m hurdles/200m) Ben Edmunds (1500m/long jump)

A winning start with Gabriel Schraibman running to 1st place in an excellent 100m hurdles field. Next the 100m girls sprint saw another Tavistock 1st place with and excellent run from Leah Parnell-Moses who out in a PB and fastest overall time over 2 heats.

Mia Cole ran a very good race in the 800M coming 3rd in a very strong field which included county runners.

Emily Frost ran home 1st in the girls 200m, putting in a great performance.

Ben Edmunds ran an excellent 1500m to come home in 4th place and was also placed in the long jump event, competing very well.
An injury to Schraibman (hip) during the 200m was enough to rule out further success, but to his testament he carried on, finishing the race showing real determination.

Isabel Hillier took 3rd place in the girls long jump and Leah Parnell-Moses came in1st place in the girls high jump with another PB, beating a strong field.

The big finish didn’t disappoint with Tavistock again taking 1st place honours in an excellent 4x100m relay. The team of Frost, Parnell-Moses, Cole and Hillier took a very deserved 1st place and finished the event with the fastest relay time overall.
An excellent and talented Athletics team who represented the college in style.

Mr. Hosking

Year 7, 8 and 9 rewards trip to Woodlands Country Park
on Saturday 20th June.

Your child must be at college by 0800hrs on morning of 20th June.
Returning at 1730hrs (5.30pm).
Please ensure you have made arrangements for your child to be
collected promptly.

Students will need-

• A sun hat/ sun protection lotion
• A packed lunch, mid-morning snack and afternoon snack with enough water to last them the day. There are kiosks on site to purchase additional drinks if necessary.
• Comfortable shoes, Woodlands have steep paths and uneven surfaces.
• Socks, a long sleeved top and trousers (some slides require students to cover their feet, arms and legs)