Hula Hoop Heroics

Buttsbury Primary School is the home of our second RotaKids club, and a Corporate Member of the Rotary Club of Billericay.  So we were delighted to hear from Ann Robinson, the head teacher, who contacted us on January 22 to let us know that “It’s that time of year again - our annual sponsored event - it’s hoopla this year - on Fri 6th Feb - from about 9.30am.  We’re doing it on both sites and we’ll be using the older children to count for the little ones at some point.”

“It would be great if you could pop down with your camera!”

What a Hoop-la 

The plan was to do the fundraiser starting at the same time (09.30) in both the Infants and the Junior Schools, but the day began with a relentless grey sky and a driving, wintry rain that threatened to wash out these big plans.  With the wind howling and the playground soaked, the decision was made: the Great Hula Hoop Challenge would move indoors!

The excitement shifted from the damp outdoors to the buzzing halls of both the Infant and the Junior School sites, starting with the Infants School at 09.30 through to lunch break, and starting at the Junior School at 10.30 and continuing through to 3 p.m.  We could watch the children undertake their charity task, for which they planned to be sponsored by their family and friends.

But what were we going to see? Was it hula hoops, the exercise fad in England in the 14th century when doctors reported injuries such as dislocated backs? Or was it Hoopla, a game the ancient Greeks played by throwing horseshoes at a peg?

Our confusion was resolved as we walked into the school hall of the Infants school on February 6 to see enthusiastic children from Badgers and Rabbits sitting in pairs listening intently to their instructions and ready to twirl the colourful hula hoops around their waists. 

Hoops a Plenty

The energy inside was electric as the countdown clock flickered to life. The mission was simple, but the challenge was legendary: one minute on the clock and as many rotations as humanly possible.
The opening demonstration set a high bar, successfully spinning 40 circles despite a few nail-biting drops and frantic restarts.  As the official timer hit zero, the “hands on heads” rule was strictly enforced by staff acting as eagle-eyed referees. Of course, it wouldn’t be a school competition without a little “ambitious” counting—one early participant confidently claimed a cool 100 rotations right out of the gate! (Funny that – we only saw about 15! - Editor)

As the event moved through the schools to the Juniors, the scene turned into a whirlwind of motion.  Partners were matched—big students from Year 5 pairing up with smaller ones from the Infants — and for a moment, it was total hula-hoop chaos! At one point, the sheer enthusiasm outstripped the equipment, leaving a few hoop-less hopefuls cheering wildly from the sidelines while they waited for their turn to spin.

By the time the Infants were finished and it was time for the Year 5s to step up, and the numbers were getting serious. We saw impressive, verified scores of 65 and 87, and another “reported” century. Then, the real heavy hitters emerged. 

One young lad, Oliver, put on a masterclass, breezing past the 200 mark with ease.  Oliver was the undisputed talk of the playground.  In a performance that defied the laws of physics, Oliver allegedly clocked in at a staggering 502 rotations in total – he just kept going even when the minute was up!

Was it a miracle of supersonic speed or a partner whose counting was as fast as the hoop? We’ll let the school legends decide, but for now, Oliver sits firmly on the hula hoop throne.

Just when the momentum was peaking, Mrs. Robinson, Buttsbury headteacher, was persuaded to join the exhibition!  She hit the floor with a burst of energy, twisting and turning with a rhythmic flair that caught everyone’s eye.  While the students and staff pretended to focus on their own hoops, every eye in the room was secretly watching in admiration as she demonstrated exactly how it was done.

Fantastic Fundraiser!

Despite the rain outside, the halls were filled with nothing but sunshine, laughter, and record-breaking spins.  A massive congratulations to everyone involved on both the Infants and the Junior site!  The incredible staff superbly supervised the whirlwind of activity, and every single student who took part deserves a round of applause for giving their absolute all.

A special thank you goes to all the wonderful parents, whose generous sponsorship fuelled the children’s competitive spirit.  The big question remained - how much did they raised for their charity?  

A massive £5780.25.  Fantastic!
By Keith Wood