Could you stack 12 cups in under two seconds?

If the answer is “no” then the European Sport Stacking Championships are probably not for you.

But for five people from Northern Ireland – including three children – success at those championships in Spain next weekend is the goal.

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The individual and team sport, also known as cup stacking or speed stacking, involves stacking nine to 12 specially-designed cups in predetermined sequences as quickly as possible.

The cups, which come with air holes to allow air to pass through, are placed in different sequences in a race against the clock or different players.

The Northern Ireland team is headed by 22-year-old Laura Beacom, from east Belfast, who is the current European champion.

She first spotted sport stacking online when she was 12-years-old after coming across a video on YouTube.

“I got a set of cups and just started practicing on the carpet of my bedroom and the rest is history,” she said.

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Laura convinced her mum to let her take part in her first competition in Glasgow after a set of cups purchased in 2017 came with an advert notifying them of the event.

Now, 10 years later, she has won the 2022, 2023 and 2024 European championships, holds two out of three of the current European records, held the world record at one point and came fifth at the 2025 World Championships.

Laura will be competing in the singles event at the upcoming European Championships, where she has to place 12 cups in a formation.

Her best time is less than two seconds.

She will also compete in the doubles, alongside a partner she has yet to play with.

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“Speed is the most important thing but you only get three tries in each event and you need to do well in every event as they add the times together,” she said.

“Consistency is so important as you need to be nailing it every time and hold your nerve.”

Success though has come at a price, as the sport is all self-funded – an expense which adds up, especially since Laura usually competes abroad once a month.

When Laura started out a decade ago it was only her – and then her dad – competing.

There are 24 competing with Team GB in Alicante from 17 to 19 April, five of whom are from Northern Ireland.

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Laura is now the GB national coach for the sport and trains children at after school clubs in the Randalstown area.

A number of them are accompanying Laura to Spain, including brother and sister, Logan and Ivy from Randalstown in County Antrim.

Their mum Sarah explained how she believed this would just be a short-lived phase after her daughter showed interest.

“She is sticking with his. She really enjoys it,” she said.

‘Begged mum for a timer’

“We now have about 20 sets of cups in the house and it’s her biggest fascination,” she said.

“She has her brother involved and her neighbours. Dad has now become head coach in the house, but I refuse to pick up a cup.

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“If they’re not in the house doing it, they’re on the doorstep. There are cups everywhere.”

The phase shows no signs of abating with 10-year-old Ivy practising for more than an hour each day.

“I started doing it on my granny’s kitchen floor and begged my mum for a timer mat and cup,” Ivy said.

“I’m extremely excited about the European Championships and have started practising non-stop.”

The constant training has aroused the interest of her brother, 11-year-old Logan, who is also due to compete.

Ivy’s love for the sport has also been passed on to others in her school.

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It led to her classmate, Olly, playing along with her and convincing his mum to let him go to the same after-school club taught by Laura.

The 10-year-old will also compete in Spain in the individual event, and in the doubles along with Ivy.

“My first ever cycle at the sport stacking afterschool club was 30 seconds as I had been practising a lot with Ivy,” Olly said.

“If it’s raining, I practise most of the day.”

Sport stacking continues to grow, according to coach Laura, and she soon hopes that it will be expanded across Northern Ireland.

“I am hoping to start the first Belfast club outside of schools after Easter, so watch this space.”