TENDRING Technology College’s students won prizes at the Micromouse Techfest competition at Birmingham City University.

Members of the colleges’ robotics club travelled nearly 170 miles to take part in three challenges showcasing their ‘micromouse’, a small autonomous robot that must move by itself.

Competing against 33 other schools, students were crowned the highest performing winners, scooping up three awards after months of preparation.

The skills of their creations were tested over three separate events, including the line race, drag race and the wall race with each of the races testing the robot’s functions and accuracy.

The students took first place in all three contests with the line following prize won by Bailey Southern, 15, with a time of 11.80 seconds followed closely by Gwon Yueng Chiu, 15, with a time of 11.83 seconds.

The wall follow contest was also won by Gwon with a time of 26.58 seconds.

Louie Fennel, 15, also bagged the top judges’ prize.

Simon Clapson, DT teacher and micromouse enthusiast, said the day was a success for the students, adding: “The day went very well as we won all three categories. Louie was awarded the judge’s prize. It is the first time we have won all three. The club has now got an award at the Chelmsford Science and Engineering Society competition.”