Spinning to win fidget world record

Hundreds of fidgety New Plymouth children are hoping to have spun their way to a new world record.

More than 400 students of Bell Block Primary packed into their school hall on Friday afternoon armed with fidget spinners and a goal to set the Guinness World Record for the most people to spin the gadget, which has become the latest national craze, for 30 seconds.

With ‘‘intense suspenseful background’’ music to motivate the twiddling mob, a digital clock timed the effort while they danced about. Trying to make history was ‘‘pretty cool’’ for Year 8 Penny Hambling, who was part of the student council which planned the event.

‘‘It’s cool to think that we’re going to be the only ones who have done this,’’ the 12-year-old said.

Co-organiser Tessa Georgeson, 12, said the day would stay with her forever.

‘‘It’s a cool opportunity to think for our whole lives that we’ve done that.

‘‘And because we’re going to be leaving for high school next year it’s kind of our parting gift and something they’ll remember us for.’’

The girls said the idea had gone down well when pitched to the rest of the students, who all brought their version of the latest craze to school for the day to take part.

Hambling said the challenge was designed with fun in mind and people were encouraged to dance and sing to the music while spinning.

The event was run in conjunction with Sport Taranaki who pitched the idea of setting or breaking a world record to the students a few months back.

Youth sport development manager Hannah Kelly said the student council was asked to come up with the challenge and then organise it, which encouraged leadership among the adolescents.

After much thought the students suggested the fidget spinner idea, as the toy had recently exploded in popularity.

Kelly researched if such a record had ever been attempted and when she found it hadn’t she sent off an application to Guinness World Records in the UK.

The attempt was filmed which would now be sent to them as evidence but she said it would still take a couple of months to process the application.

‘‘I think the chances are pretty high,’’ she said.

‘‘There was only one other world record to do with fidget spinners and it wasn’t a mass one.’’