AFTER 48 hours, three millions questions and answers from more than 6,000 students from 30 Cambridgeshire schools, brains should have been at least a little frazzled. But the huge mathematics challenge proved to be a popular event across the world, with H

AFTER 48 hours, three millions questions and answers from more than 6,000 students from 30 Cambridgeshire schools, brains should have been at least a little frazzled.

But the huge mathematics challenge proved to be a popular event across the world, with Huntingdonshire's schools more than holding their own against their rivals.

The competition saw the 'mathletes' pitting their mathematical wits against others from around the world in the online challenges. Hunts children competed with other schools from as far away as China, Bahrain, America, Australia and Germany, as well as the UK.

In Cambridgehsire, Godmanchester School was the best performing overall, with St Peter's in Huntingdon second and Buckden Primary third.

Buckden also fielded the best individual pupil and the top class in the challenge, which was run by 3P Learning.

Buckden headteacher Margaret Leverett said: "All the children who took part thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. It was great to see them so excited and engaged in maths.

"I am very proud of their achievements"

Mrs Leverett added: "Excitement grew after day one, which saw a number of Buckden's 'mathletes' featuring in the UK and world top 10 individual rankings and the Year 5 pupils topping the World and UK class rankings.

"After a late night and an early start for many, our mathletes started the final day's challenge, with renewed vigour. The challenge ended at midday and within minutes they were rewarded with the news that Adrian Vuylsteke had won the Cambridgeshire challenge (and an MP3 player) with an enormous 32,797 points, 501 points ahead of his nearest rival."

Buckden's Year 5 'mathletes', Alexander Waugh, Megan Gaughan, William Frost, Jason Strauch and Lauren Arscott, were also celebrating the news that they gained the most points of any class.