PRACTICE and teamwork added up to victory for young mathematicians with a winning tradition to uphold in a primary schools challenge.
Millie Brown, William Mawer, Toby Broderick and Henry Shepherd handled the pressure well to take Richmond Methodist Primary School to first place in the 24 Challenge, hosted by Richmond School and Sixth Form College.
Each year the secondary school and sixth form invites local primaries to enter a team into the competition for children in Years 5 and 6.
The Methodist primary has won for the last three years and once again came out on top followed by Wavell Juniors of Catterick Garrison and Melsonby Methodist Primary in third place, with Richmond Church of England Primary just three points behind.
Teacher Kate Auger, of Richmond Methodist Primary, said: "The children love the 24 Challenge, which we do in a Wednesday maths class. They are so enthusiastic about their maths and were really looking forward to the competition."
Pupil Harry Shepherd, 11, said: "I didn't have my hopes up because there was quite a lot of pressure from last year, so I'm really happy we won."
Nine schools took part in eight rounds of the challenge in which teams have to reach 24 by adding, subtracting, dividing and multiplying all four numbers on cards put quick-fire in front of them by Year 9 helpers.
Rebecca Collier, maths teacher at Richmond School, said: "It's pretty difficult because they have to work quickly to get through as many cards as possible. Some schools run it as a club or practise in maths lessons."
Head of transition Sandra Johnson added: "We love hosting the challenge and it's always very popular with local primary schools. As well as being a good, fun competition it's another opportunity for young children to come into school and become familiar with us before they move up."
