A GROUP of Dorchester ‘rocketeers’ reached the final of a prestigious aerospace competition.

The team consisted of five Thomas Hardye students who had reached the last stage of the Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKAYRoC).

They were one of just 20 groups from across the country that was present at the final of the national competition.

The Thomas Hardye group consisted of Year 12 students Ben Taylor, Jon Bartlett, Greg Beavis, Tom Stratton and Tom Rolph, all aged 16 and 17, who attended the competition at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground in Lutterworth, Leicestershire.

Richard Scott, from Thomas Hardye School, said the ‘rocketeers’ had to launch rockets containing an egg and altimeter.

He said the egg section had to be returned to the ground safely and undamaged using a 15in parachute.

A team from Worksop College in Nottinghamshire came first, reaching an altitude of 758ft in 44.6 seconds with their egg section landing unbroken.

The team from Thomas Hardye, which was sponsored by Chemring, reached 528ft with a duration of just over 36 seconds coming in 16th place.

Thomas Hardye student Ben Taylor, 17, said entering the competition was a valuable experience.

He said: “It was a thrilling experience which taught me the importance of maths and science.

“It also taught me the importance of team work.”

Graham Chisnall, managing director of AeroSpace and Operations of ADS which supports the competition, said the students who entered the competition represent the next generation of engineers.

He said: “The benefit of such a competition brings to life the science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects which are an essential part to ensuring the continuation of the UK’s advanced manufacturing success.”

He added: “The students gathered on the field are an insight into the quality of tomorrow’s advanced engineers and have been able to witness some of creative aspects of engineering first hand.”