Hurling Skill on Display in River Ridge Catapult Contest

Think you can design and build an award-winning catapult that can hurl water balloons farther than anyone else’s?

Now’s your chance to prove it.

River Ridge High School’s Engineering Academy is launching its first Spring Fling Catapult Competition Wednesday, May 2, at 6 p.m. at River Ridge High. The deadline to submit applications to enter is Friday, April 27.  

Teams of people of any age and from anywhere in Pasco County can sign up to join the test to see whose machine, be it trebuchet, mangonel or ballista, can fling a water balloon the farthest.

The contest raises money and attention for the Engineering Academy. It costs $100 for a team to enter. Call (727)774-7200 for a form and return it by the end of the day April 27 to the school at 11646 Town Center Road, New Port Richey, FL 34654

Here are the school’s contest rules:

1. No ready-made kits. Each catapult must be designed, constructed, and launched by contestants.

2. No part of the catapult can extend over 6 feet at rest.

3. All catapults will be launched in the high school bus parking lot. They must sit on the ground.

4. The catapult cannot be staked to the ground.

5. All catapults will fling water balloons provided by RRHS Academy of Engineering.

6. Catapults must have a triggering mechanism which will allow participants to stand 2 feet away.

7. No explosions or air pressure may be used to assist the performance of your catapult.

8. The energy used to power the catapult must be provided by the device itself.

9. Any type of hurling machine is acceptable: Ballista, Trebuchet, Mangonel, etc.