Microsoft Challenge 2006

For the second year running Solidsoft took part in the Microsoft UK Challenge, a multi-challenge event in which top companies from all over the UK participate to raise funds for charity. This unique experience re-vitalises individuals to create outstanding teams for business and those involved are guaranteed to learn more about their strengths over the four days than they would in a whole year; this was particularly true this year! The NSPCC is the beneficiary of the event and this year the Challenge hopes ultimately to raise in excess of £500,000.

114 teams battled it out in the beautiful setting of Ayrshire and the Isle of Arran.

Day 3: Once on the Isle of Arran our goal was to reduce our set time by completing as many Scottish adventures and activities as possible before the stage close time. Some extreme mountain biking, subtlety and team tactics were the make up of the day. Team Solidsoft managed to avoid any personal injuries but did suffer a broken seat post, which made the mountain biking a little difficult at times. The physical toll was now starting to tell as the team wearily sloped back to the ferry with a well earned ice cream. The organisers were now trying every trick in the book and at the end of an evening memory stage we learnt that we had slipped to 60th. Was it all becoming too much?

Day 4: The fourth day saw reinforcements arrive in the form of our Team Senior Executive. The sight and sounds of a Scottish pipe band fired the team up as we arrived at Culzean Castle along with the other 500 plus competitors. With our hearts lifted, a huge Mexican wave amplified the spirit of the stage; a stage that centred on selling and buying Scottish goods, complicated by having windows of opportunity where the prices varied. The pressure was now on the Senior Exec to co-ordinate the team. The arrival of our Senior Exec seemed to raise our game and we were beginning to stabilise: we were now 65th with one event to go.

The final event. Every team wants to finish on a high and we were determined not to lose any more places. Running around Rozelle Park de-coding Robbie Burns in a ‘fastest to finish' event, ultimately led to Ayr's beachfront where we were required to toss the caber before sprinting up the sand to the grandstand finish.

We had done it. 3 1/2 days and for the last event we had managed to consolidate our position and finished the event 65th.

If points could be given for the evening party, we would undoubtedly have been in the top 10. Don't ask me where we found the energy that night.