Published: Wednesday, 3rd February, 2010 5:15pm

Marist team wins Midlands Maths quiz

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A group of students from the Marist College has won the regional finals of the Team Maths Quiz for the eighth time.

The winning team consisted of Robert Benson, Dermot Gillen, Alan McInerney and Lorcán O'Catháin. Marist College will now go forward to represent the Midlands in University College Cork in the National Finals on March 6.

Since 1996 Marist College has been competing in the IMTA Midland Branch Quiz and this year three teams from Marist travelled with their teacher Maureen Dooley and Principal Thomas Blaine to Tullamore to participate last Friday night.

The competition is based on the Leaving Certificate Higher Level Maths syllabus. The format is that of a Table Quiz.

Students work in teams of four at a table solving eight rounds (and a tie-breaker, if required) of problems.

The Marist has an amazing track record in this competition taking the trophy eight times. Near neighbours Our Lady's Bower, Athlone have won five times and Scoil Iosagain, Portarlington once.

Four different higher level maths teachers have been involved with the successful teams through the years; Brother Philip McCormack, John Parker, Maureen Dooley and Paddy Divilly, who has just retired having been an active member of the Midlands IMTA for many years.

Last year, Mr Parker's team of Edward Fagan, Ruairi Dooley, Robert Reid and Howard Costello came second place in Ireland in what was a closely fought competition.

The school wishes the 'Mathletes' the best of luck.