Kings School Hoop Trundle

ELY King s School scholars, wearing their scarlet gowns, bowled traditional wooden hoops around a 100-metre course by the south door of Ely Cathedral on Saturday when they took part in the annual Hoop Trundle.Watched by staff and fellow pupils, the King

ELY King's School scholars, wearing their scarlet gowns, bowled traditional wooden hoops around a 100-metre course by the south door of Ely Cathedral on Saturday when they took part in the annual Hoop Trundle.

Watched by staff and fellow pupils, the King's and Queen's Scholars ran races in the cathedral precinct while bowling traditional wooden hoops. Four heats were held, culminating in two finals for the scholars, all sixth form students.

Jonathan East beat Alex Garner, Charles Kenzie and Oliver Moses in the King's Scholars' final.

Rosie White emerged victorious in the Queen's Scholars' final, defeating Charlotte Bain, Martha Eddy and Claire Martin.

The winners will hold commemorative wooden tankards for a year.

The trundle commemorates the re-founding of The King's School Ely by Henry VIII in 1541. Having dissolved Ely monastery, which had educated children for centuries, he gave the school its first royal charter and established the King's Scholars (boys). One of the privileges he allowed them was to play games, including the bowling of hoops, in the Cathedral precincts.

In 1970 the school admitted girls for the first time in its 1,000-year history, and three years later the King's Scholars were joined by Queen's Scholars (girls) at the request of Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Ely.

Pupils are chosen as scholars for their academic achievement prior to entry into the sixth form. They become members of the Cathedral Foundation and also qualify for other privileges during their sixth form years.

<2376> Winners of this year's Hoop Trundle are Jonathan East from Boxworth and Rosie White from Cambridge with their commemorative wooden tankards.

Photo: HELEN DRAKE