WHOOSH! The success of the made-in-North Yorkshire Rock-It-Ball has surprised even the trio of businessmen who put it together.

The strange pole with curved paddles was unveiled in a demonstration by students at Northallerton College, who proved that the throwing and catching device could herald the dawn of a whole new sport.

They showed teachers, and potential distributors from the US and New Zealand, the potential for excitement, exercise and profits, with games like Extreme Rock-It-Ball, Tennis Rock-It-Ball, and solo Rock-It-Ball

They demonstrated that as the word spreads it could net a big catch indeed, worth potentially millions of pounds, to entrepreneurs Bob Eldridge of Marishes, near Thornton-le-Dale, Paul Hildreth of Newton-on-Ouse, and Paul Law of Northallerton,

A prototype was first shown to Bob. He is a man who understands inventions, being managing director of Summertronics in Marishes, which created the Scanthief to protect caravans. Helping Bob was his assistant, consultant Paul Law.

They saw the potential and brought in Paul Hildreth, MD of Securiquest, which specialises in bringing technical ideas to market.

The result was a complete re-design to make the device lightweight and aerodynamic, so that it could be used anywhere and by anyone, including people in wheelchairs.

Finally, as a result of serious refinements by Design4Plastics in Wetherby, the first batch of 6,000 has rolled off the production line at McKechnie Plastics at Stamford Bridge.

Already Emma Dempsey, the PE teacher at the college, who is one of the directors of the Obese Children's Trust, has ordered Rock-It Ball equipment for fat camps.

Mr Hildreth said: "The skill of the students who had been trialling Rock-It-Ball throughout the holidays was flabbergasting. One of the students was flicking a tennis ball about 90 yards. It was amazing.

"It's called Rock-It because you find yourself rocking at the hips as you flip the ball on the run from one injected-moulded scoop to the other. It's terrific fun."

At the moment the equipment can be bought only via the www.rock-it-ball.com website for £24.99, although schools and charities are offered a 20 per cent discount.

Updated: 10:37 Friday, April 08, 2005