Lab rats dive straight in to race

Microbiology lab staff from across Scotland have proved that their talents extend beyond assays and culture media at the inaugural Mast Lab Rat Challenge.

The teams take to the water after constructing their rafts. Have a look at the video here

The event - which took place at Monikie Country Park just outside Dundee - saw six teams from hospital labs throughout Scotland battled it out in a raft race that tested both their endurance and ingenuity.

Morna McRae of Mast Diagnostics – the company behind the race – said: “The teams were assembled on the beach where they were met with nothing more than a metal tin containing a map. This map illustrated where the different teams would find the materials required to build their rafts. There followed much scampering around in woods and other areas of the park as the teams hunted for the various components.”

Once all the materials had been collected the teams set about building their craft as quickly as possible with five lengths of timber, four barrels and assorted lengths of rope. The first raft ready for launch was Glasgow’s Western Infirmary captained by Stuart Kerr.

The course comprised a 400 yard paddle out to a marker buoy and then back to shore followed by a 200 yard paddle up an inlet to collect flag, and then a dash to plant the flag in the beach.

The second raft into the water was the all girl Fife Area Lab followed in third by Glasgow’s Southern General However it wasn’t all plain sailing says McRae.

“The pirate villain of the piece has to be Dr Alistair Leonard from the Southern. Whilst passing the Western he made a dramatic attempt to steal their flag by launching himself into the water and then clambering aboard the rival raft.”
Unperturbed, the Western raft made steady progress to the finish to plant the rescued flag and secure victory. In second place was Fife and eventually allowed home in third came the Southern.
As for the next race, Mast hope that raft fever could spread across the UK.

“I know that other people from labs from around the country have been very interested in what we've done in Scotland and there have been suggestions made about having heats and then a Great British final,” said McRae.

So water about it lab rats of the UK? Drop us a line if you are interested!