Bowling up-hill for great causes: 72 hour bowls marathon Guinness world
record attempt
Although bowls is not a sport that would be
considered ‘extreme’, it’s about to get an image overhaul as a new Guinness
world record attempt is announced. On 10th March, a team of six passionate
bowlers will be heading to Moonfleet 2000 Bowls Club, Weymouth for a longer
game than normal, rolling their way towards smashing the current record for
indoor bowling, which stands at 40 hours. Not just in the name of fun and
games, the team will be livestreaming the 72 hour marathon from its
dedicated website, showcasing the excitement that the sport brings while
also raising money for a number of charities.
The record-breaking
team, comprising of leading names in the bowling community, hope to share
their love for the game, ultimately raising the profile of the classic
sport. After noticing a downhill struggle in the world of bowls, with
numbers and clubs dwindling, the success of a dedicated Facebook group
created by lifelong bowler Jo Wahnon showed the strong loyalty and passion
that remains in the sport, spurring on the looming world record attempt to
highlight this further and gather new recruits.
Team 72 bowler, Jo
Wahnon, said, “I was challenged by a member of our popular Facebook group to
break the bowls record as a bit of a joke, but I then thought what a great
way to bring the game I love into to the limelight whilst at the same time
showing how caring the bowls community is and what we can do collectively
for the sport. Challenge Accepted!”
Another of Team 72s hopefuls and
passionate bowler, Chris Aitken, revealed, "I want to help make bowls
mainstream. The sport has 1000's of clubs up and down the country, with the
number of teams and players, only football can rival it! Bowls is a skilful
game and we want to help it lose the ‘old man sport’ stigma that has become
attached to it. We want people to try the challenging and fun sport for
themselves, we’re sure they’ll be surprised how much they love it! It’s
hoped our Guinness World Record attempt and fundraising will help change
perceptions.”
In what could be seen as a warm up to this world
record attempt, a fund was launched last year to raise money for a
meningitis charity, in honour of a fellow bowler. After quickly raising
£1500, it became clear what could be achieved when such a tight-knit
community joined forces for great causes. And so, alongside boosting bowls’
profile, the three days of non-stop bowling also acts as a platform to raise
further funds for charities including Disability Bowls England, Cancer
Research UK, and Help for Heroes.
The 72 hour bowls marathon takes
place from 10th – 13th March (although if the team can, they intend to bowl
for longer!). To learn more about this record-breaking event as well as the
story behind the players, the chosen charities, and to view the live stream,
head to www.bowlsmarathon.com.
About
The Bowls Marathon is an
official Guinness World Record attempt, taking place from 10th – 13th March.
Players will be embarking on 72 hours of consecutive bowls playing, hosted
at the Moonfleet 2000 Bowls Club in Weymouth. The game will be live streamed
on the official Bowls Marathon website.
It aim is to help raise the
profile of the highly skilful, fun, competitive and addictive sport to
people and players of all ages, shaking off the Stigma of bowls being an
‘old man’s game’. Secondly, it aims to raise as much money possible for the
team’s chosen charities: Meningitis Now, Macmillan and Help for Heroes.
Contact
www.bowlsmarathon.com
Press contact: Chris Aitken, Jo Wahnon
Email:
info@bowlsmarathon.com
Tel UK: 07539 117 877
27th January 2017
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