Monkey cages means moving in a playful manner and with great enthusiasm. You can see this in the participants in the De Rusheuvel sports hall in Oss. They are blood fanatics. Red-faced faces everywhere. The sound of enthusiastic yells and squeaking sneakers fills the room during the Monkey Cage Championships.
“What makes this championship so special? Monkey cages have been banned from Dutch gyms in recent years, because it would be too dangerous. While Monkey cages are very good for you,” says organizer Jeroen van de Pol. “We have minimally adapted the traditional Monkey Cage from the Dutch gymnasiums to turn it into a championship. With extra mats here and there as fall protection.”
Successfully. Lenn (10) from Ooijen has sweat on his forehead. Avoiding ‘the taggers’ is clearly not for the faint of heart. “What makes it tiring? Running and going up and down obstacles all the time,” he says. “The best thing about monkey cages here is playing with other children,” says 11-year-old Lizzy from De Lockaert primary school in Oss. “Children you don’t know, but you have fun with.”
“We have to run for four hours. That’s quite tiring.”
A girl who participates on behalf of De Evenaar primary school in Oss especially likes the fact that you work together as a team. “That you are all together, as a team. Have a nice run. Although a few have already broken their ankles.” Another fanatic is the boy next to her. “I sprained my ankle once. But I also tried a somersault so… Maybe I was a bit too fanatic,” he grins. “We have to run for four hours. That’s quite tiring.”
Jeroen van de Pol looks on with a big smile. “Yesterday we played monkey cages for adults. Well, I can tell you: that was quite tiring,” he laughs. “After a game I lay panting on the sidelines.”