Martin Couzins reports on the action at the second Computastars
heat in York
The Computastars roadshow rolled into Rydedale Stadium, York on
Sunday 11 June.
Some 97 competitors representing 23 teams turned out to battle
for a place in the UK final to be held in Hull in July.
The seven events, revealed to competitors on their arrival, were
similar to the events in the Crawley heat, but with a few
adjustments made by Computastars referee Gordon Cairns.
There was definitely an element of northern exposure as
competitors battled it out in a strong, cold wind. The braver
athletes knocked knees in shorts, while others donned woolly hats.
Although not ideal conditions, Computer Sciences took top spot in
the men's team event, winning by a 10-point margin over second
placed PO GP IS & IT Vets. Cap Gemini were a further 11 points
behind in third place.
In the women's event, Cap Gemini Redcar took the glory over
second placed Halifax 2 and third placed Halifax 1. The gap between
first and third place was a mere 11 points - an indication of how
closely fought the heat had been.
Consistency over all seven events was the key to victory. The
weightlifting caused problems for a lot of the competitors. Grip
seemed to be an important issue, with one competitor commenting,
"We should have put our hands in the sandpit to get some grip."
That said, Computer Sciences in the men's and Cap Gemini Redcar in
the women's event showed the most strength, managing to keep the
weighted bar above the bench for the longest time, scoring valuable
points.
The wind played havoc with the basketball event, in which
competitors had to dribble a basketball to a hurdle before putting
it down and throwing a golf ball into a net. For many, the wind
carried the golf ball way beyond the basket. It also helped take
one competitor crashing through the hurdle. Drama is never far away
at Computastars.
As the step overs event got into its swing, competitors were
treated to a fly past by the Red Arrows. But that didn't stop Cap
Gemini and PO Business Systems hot stepping their way to top points
in the men's event.
It was Sunday and the event was skiing, but that's where the
similarities to Ski Sunday ended. For the ski run, teams had to
take turns running with a pair of wooden skis that had been
custom-built to fit three pairs of feet. This was followed by teams
skiing the designated course.
In the men's event, Leisure Network SU probably would have
scored more points had they spent more time skiing and less time
posing for the cameras. And Cap Gemini just lost out to Halifax 1
following a tumble.
Despite shouts of, "Into a jog, start jogging come on" from
their male counterparts, Lynx Financial Systems women's team
foundered, while Halifax 2 skied into top points.
The final, gruelling event was the 400m steeplechase.
Competitors ran their hearts out and attempted to jump for their
lives to avoid the steeplechase's watery pit. Unfortunately, most
of the runners got soaked, but their spirits were lifted as they
came down the home straight by the loud and supportive crowd.
Computastars: York heat winners
| Men's team
results | | Score |
| 1 | Computer
Sciences | 248 |
| 2 | PO GP IS & IT
Vets | 238 |
| 3 | Cap Gemini
Redcar | 227 |
| 3 | PO Business
Systems | 227 |
| 5 | Halifax 1 | 204 |
| Women's team
results | | Score |
| 1 | Cap Gemini
Redcar | 101 |
| 2 | Halifax 2 | 94 |
| 3 | Halifax 1 | 90 |
| 4 | Kingston
Internet | 75 |
| 5 | Lynx Financial
Systems | 60 |
| Men's individual
results | | Score |
| 1 | Ian Murdie, Computer
Sciences | 83 |
| 2 | Ian Ernshaw, Halifax
Vets | 72 |
| 2 | Michael Gardner,
Computer Sciences | 72 |
| 4 | Andy Holleran, PO GP
IS & IT Vets | 66 |
| 4 | Graig Owen, Leisure
Network SU | 66 |
| Women's individual
results | | Score |
| 1 | Jen Milsom, Cap Gemini
Redcar | 39 |
| 2 | Sue Stredwick, Cap
Gemini Redcar | 31 |
| 2 | Gail Hall, Cap Gemini
Redcar | 31 |
| 4 | Emma Bates, Halifax
2 | 29 |
| 5 | Soma Ray, Halifax
1 | 27 |