December’s challenge was on Wipeout Omega Collection, a driving game that tested the driver’s skill, capacity for speed, stomach stability and tolerance to neon lights. The challenge involved driving around a track passing checkpoints and surviving for the longest time possible to get the highest score, with the catch that the longer you live, the faster you go, and the harder the challenge becomes! Bumps and scrapes are survivable at first, but one little tap at high speed could knock down your health by a huge amount, and your final score was dictated by the most amount of checkpoints successfully passed.

The game was hosted in VR as well as normally, and at first seemed to be fairly easy, though it quickly stepped up into the sharp turns and winding paths. 6 Sqn’s Warren Marsland set the initial benchmark at 34, which was quickly jumped by 9 Sqn’s Dean Bowditch, making 49 checkpoints. This score would be the one to reach for the rest of the night, with CXX’s Harry Greensill and MSC’s Karl Dawson getting a respectable 38 and 33 points respectively next, and 1 Sqn’s Leigh Hortol getting 43. The next challenger was ATC’s Emily Naylor, setting a starting attempt at 40. ATC’s Jeff Mccullough achieved 33 checkpoints before Emily Naylor climbed up the scoreboard to 45, then 49 checkpoints – a score that would end the day’s challenge in a tie with Dean Bowditch.

Impressive scores were gained through the night, particularly for participants new to the genre or new to VR. Huge thanks to the staff of the Barrel and Bean for keeping us fed and watered as usual, and congratulations to the combined victors of the Club’s final challenge of 2022!