On Wednesday of Week 2 this term, Hannah Rawson, Zoe Davy, Luke and Regan Cumming were selected to go to the Bay Park Arena for the Police Bluelight PCT Challenge. The challenge was to complete the Physical Competency Test that the Police have to complete every two years.

When we got there, we first had a briefing about how things were going to work, what all the challenges were and what order we would be going in.

The first activity was a crime scene investigation. We had to write down the point of entry and point of exit, what we thought happened and what the criminals had used to get in. We also had to list as many things as we could that might hold DNA.

The next activity we did was trying to open four locks in the fastest time. This one was pretty easy because all we had to do was look for the same brand that was on the padlock and match it to the key. We completed this in 6:03 mins (Hannah broke one of the locks because she was too strong).

Another one of the other challenges was the number plate memory challenge. We had to run and find a number plate to memorise and remember it as we ran back.

The hardest challenge was the obstacle course. We had to run a lap around one of the Bay Park sections, then run another lap where we had to all carry tyres in a chain shape. After that we had to shoot at least two basketball hoops each. It took Hannah about 50,000,000 tries to just get one in.

Our thoughts:

My favourite part was the obstacle course. - Hannah, Year 7.

It was fun but hard at the same time. - Regan, Year 7.

My favourite part was the number plate memory challenge. - Luke, Year 8.

My favourite part was the crime scene challenge because I liked looking for clues. - Zoe, Year 8.

Once everyone had finished all the challenges, the police organisers held a prize giving where first and second place would carry on and go to Rotorua for the finals. Mount Maunganui Intermediate came first, second place went to Omokoroa Number One School. We came 8th out of eleven schools.