The calculators stayed in the drawer and the mental arithmetic took centre stage as Welgemoed Primary’s sharpest mathematical minds battled through multiple rounds of the prestigious Peregrine Capital 24SumMore competition. When the final numbers were tallied and the last problem solved, it was Dana McLachlan standing atop the podium as overall champion, with Sonya Oosthuizen claiming the runner-up spot in a competition that tested the very limits of numerical agility.

The internal tournament transformed the school into a hotbed of mathematical excitement, with learners embracing the challenge of quick-fire problem-solving that demands not just computational accuracy but strategic thinking and mental stamina. Over several gruelling rounds, participants stretched their cognitive muscles and proved that mathematics can be as thrilling as any sporting contest.

The 24SumMore challenge is no ordinary maths quiz. It requires participants to manipulate numbers at lightning speed, deploying creative strategies to reach target totals whilst racing against the clock.

For the Welgemoed learners who took on the challenge, it represented an opportunity to showcase skills honed through countless hours of practice and a genuine passion for numerical problem-solving. The atmosphere was electric as competitors worked through each round, the mental intensity palpable as they navigated increasingly complex mathematical puzzles.

The internal competition was merely the opening act. Dana and Sonya have now earned the right to represent Welgemoed Primary in the regional round, where they will face off against the best mathematical minds from neighbouring schools.