When we set off we didn't rate our chances much, but at the competition, the team began to realise how much they had done and that they might be able to win... Our project was rated as clearly the best by the judges who were very complementary and enthusiatic about the Bee-reatton company. Our robot design and programming also stood out and we won the trophy for the best engineering and programming skills. Unfortunately, lack of match fitness, and not having had the time to run through our programmes under competition conditions and timing let Bert2e down. He didn't score as well as he was capable of doing and we came third in the Robot game, which ultimately cost us the overall result.
Nevertheless, we won the two best trophies on offer - best research project and best technical design! I think the team should be pretty proud of these, given we were up against top grammar, state and public schools from across the North-West. We were the scruffiest and loudest team there and the only team with our own robot's theme tune (Raiders march - but I'm renaming it Bert2e's march). It was just a bit disappointing realising that with a little more luck and match practice, we could have scooped the overall prize too.
We will have a final celebration meeting on Wednesday, and plan our strategy for when we join the other Shrewsbury teams in a fun contest after christmas.
The directors and shareholders also need to hold an AGM and plan how to take Bee-reatton Environment Company forward - we are profitable, have a cash surplus going into the crunch, and have awarded an interim dividend of 80p per ordinary fully paid up share. I expect, with a strong order book going forward, we will be in a position to reward our investors with a strong final dividend payment early in the new year.
Well done to all the Ro-boreatteers! The rest of you - why not join us and Bert3e next year? We had a couple of late joining members and even a spare place on the team at the competition - if enough scouts want to enter, we can run two teams! It's hard work but, as in all things, the more you put in, the more fun you get out!
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