Launch It! Trebuchet Contest

2023 Winners

Children's Distance Competition

1st Place: Sarah, with her Trebuchet Odin the Destroyer.
2nd Place: Conley, with his Trebuchet Injured Metallic Duck
3rd place: Michael with his Trebuchet Flop

Children's Design Competition

1st Place: Sarah, with her Trebuchet Odin the Destroyer
2nd Place: Michael with his Trebuchet Flop
3rd place: Conley, with his Trebuchet Injured Metallic Duck

Adult Distance Competition

1st Place: Glenn LeCoutor with his trebuchet Leapy
2nd Place: Alex Nunally with The Machine
3rd Place: John Sweton with Raul Gillette

what is a trebuchet?

 

 

A trebuchet, for those not familiar with the term, was a popular element in medieval siege warfare. Trebuchets hurled missiles at town walls and castle defenses, with the aim of knocking holes large enough to let the invaders come through. They were often given names, a tradition we carry on in this competition.

Unlike a catapult, a trebuchet uses weight instead of tension on a cord to throw its load. A cord or rope can only stretch so far, but there isn't a practical limit on how heavy weight can be, so trebuchets were usually much more powerful than catapults.

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