When it comes to stacking cups, Jim Kinhan is the man in these parts.
He may not have the fastest hands in the Northeast, but he is responsible for teaching some of the best in Concord.
It was about 15 years ago when Kinhan was first introduced to the sport of speed stacking, but he remembers the moment as if it happened yesterday. It was love at first stack in the Antrim Elementary School gymnasium, and ever since, Kinhan has been spreading the good word of the 12-cup shuffle.
I tried it out and said ‘I’ve got to get myself a set,’ ” Kinhan said.
During his days as a child counselor, Kinhan would keep a set of cups on his desk. It helped his young patients relax and open up. At the same time, he was also volunteering at Beaver Meadow Elementary School and thought it’d be a good idea to bring some cups over there. Turns out his inclination was correct. They don’t call him Mr. Jim for nothing.
“When I was younger, he lived across the street from me and he gave me a set of cups,” fourth grader Christopher Renaud said.
Now in his retirement, Kinhan is the cup master of the Beaver Meadow School Speed Stacking Club. They even have a club song, “These little cups of mine, I’m going let them jump.” Can you tell what song that’s similar too? We’ll give you a hint, it has to do with something very bright.
For the last eight years, Kinhan has spent Thursday afternoons with the Meadow Stackers. (That’s our nickname for the club, but it’s quite catchy, if we do say so.) It started out with almost 20 students and has since more than doubled with 40 third, fourth and fifth graders taking part this year.
“I love being around children. They keep me young,” Kinhan said.
The numbers have grown so much that Kinhan had to split the club into two groups. That’s what happens when things become really popular. (See time line of the Insider for a second example.)
Stacking cups is just the cool thing to do after school on Thursdays at Beaver Meadow. And all you have to do is stop by to see.
“In kindergarten, Mr. Jim did a demonstration and I thought it’d be fun to try,” said fifth grader Austin Carrier. “It’s a lot of fun. I really like doing the relays.”
Kinhan’s best time (completing the full cup stacking cycle) is about 20 seconds. It’s a respectable number in the stacking world and less than half of what he started at, but nothing close to the fast hands of some of his proteges.
“My record is I think either 13 or 14 (seconds),” Renaud said.
“They challenge me from time to time,” Kinhan said. “I haven’t beat anybody yet.”
The fastest he’s seen at Beaver Meadow is 12 seconds, and that’s more than double the world record. You should watch the YouTube video. It’s hand-eye coordination at its finest.
“It’s amazing what they can do,” Kinhan said. “It’s like there’s a DNA going around Beaver Meadow hallways when it comes to stacking cups.”
From October until the end of school, the club meets weekly. They even took part in a Guinness World Record for the Most People Sport Stacking at Multiple Locations in One Day on Nov. 14. At Beaver Meadow, 42 stackers helped make up the record number of 555,932 from 30 countries. Now that’s some organizational skills.
“In Australia, they were stacking cups before we got up,” he said.
The club runs for about an hour each week, and Kinhan just wants the students to be active.
“I always say to the kids, whatever you want to do with the cups you can do it,” Kinhan said.
And if they want to put the time in, Kinhan knows the results will come.
“Cup stacking gives you some immediate feedback,” Kinhan said. “With practice, focus and persistence, you can see yourself improve.”
Maybe one day, the world record will reside at Beaver Meadow. Lets just hope we’re there to see it.
