UKROC 2025 – Meet The Teams – Olympus
In the lead up to the National Final we are doing a “Meet The Teams” series. Over to Team Olympus…
Intro
- Team name – Olympus
- School/club – Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School
- Region/location – Birmingham, West Midlands
- Fun fact – With only enough people to sign up on the deadline, we had to start the competition with only a month to go.
What have you enjoyed the most about UKROC?
Having to work against all the odds – and succeeding. With such time pressure, we weren’t even able to do a test so everything was theoretical. On the day, after our first launch (which went well but needed improvement), one part of the rocket got stuck in a bush and we spent over an hour trying to retrieve it with various sticks. We ended up having to tear off the parachute to do so – an ordeal in itself. With no spare due to a delivery delay, it was going to get tough. Using the limited time we had available, we managed to implement the modifications we hoped, in theory, would work: tapering the fins and removing a full 80 grams from the rocket. With one shot left – and a parachute kindly loaned to us by Team Eggheads, we went out for the last launch of the day: and nailed a near perfect flight – after ignition failed twice. A real, last-minute, extra-time screamer.
Would you encourage other teams to enter the competition?
Absolutely. It’s a brilliant way to put theory to practice, solve problems under pressure, overcome unexpected challenges, and collaborate as a team – all in the spirit of good sportsmanship. A great opportunity!
Want to share your experience? Email us ukroc@adsgroup.org.uk.