Cranbury Road Girls School, Eastleigh, 1910 What are these girls holding?

[Molloyboy]

Danny

[groom]

The first thing that crossed my mind was sticks for some sort of country dancing, but I'm not sure about the "dumb bell" type things. Can you see what it actually says on the notice held by the girl at the front?

[japeflakes]

Could they just be "exercise dumbbells" ?

[MartynS]

The sign looks like is says Group 8 and the sticks could be some form of catcher with net - I can only see the full stick on the girl farthest left, and maybe the more im looking at the image im convincing myself there is a small net at the feet end...The other items look like dumb bells to me to.


If not ball catching sticks, then its to beat the boys and make them cry :-)


Edit----
Nope there are no nets - I saw the sticks on the floor at the front now - forget that idea.....What about some early form of majorettes/dancing equipment ?

[Ellenmai]

I was thinking the same about the girls being a possible dance group/majorettes as they are all wearing tassled headwear. Brings a whole new meaning to Pole Dancing 

[Scribble1952]

Early form of  horse polo,one of the girls at the back has a crook on the stick.
Or a danceing lesson😄


A guess

[jim1]

I thought they were wearing night caps.
What they are holding look like rattles.

[groom]

Thinking about it, PE lessons in schools in the late 1800s and early 1900s used to be more of a military type drill and exercises rather than games. So perhaps the sticks and dumbells were used for that. As they have that sign and are wearing the tassel hats, maybe they were taking part in a competition.

[philipsearching]

Thinking about it, PE lessons in schools in the late 1800s and early 1900s used to be more of a military type drill and exercises rather than games. So perhaps the sticks and dumbells were used for that. As they have that sign and are wearing the tassel hats, maybe they were taking part in a competition.

The British Girls' Rhythmic Gymnastics team selected for the 1912 Olympic Games