World Record NUNS

The Capital NUNS Netball Club love for the beautiful game was sorely tested but fortitude, determination and bagels won through in July 2005 to see them break the World Record for Longest Ever Netball Match. The event took place from 22-24th July 2005 at the Shell Centre, Southbank – in the heart of London and in the shadow of the London Eye.

The Rules
For the record attempt to be legitimate, play had to be continuous between the same two teams. There was a maximum of 12 players per team and 5-7 players per team had to be on court at any one time.  Quarter time changeovers remained within the rules of netball (e.g. 3-5mins), with some additional breaks for extra changeover time as advised by the Guinness World Record office.  No players left the courtside during the duration of the attempt – with the exception of 5 minute comfort breaks; breaks that were timed by independent witnesses.

The Results
The previous Guinness Endurance World Record for Longest Ever Netball Match was 54 hours 15mins from 22-24 March, 2002 . The record was held by Castle View School, Canvey Island, Essex.

The Capital NUNS played for an amazing 55 hours, which equated to 40 back to back games of netball and produced a stunning 3296 goals.

Final Score
The GDR Blues: 1736
The Deloitte Whites: 1560

The Stats
The attempt involved:

• 28 shifts of independent witnesses (rotating on a 4hr basis)
• 14 shifts of medical practitioners (rotating on a 4hr basis)
• 20+ umpires
• A rotating crew to feed, support and cajole the players
• A volunteer Physio team
• 500 litres of water
• A lot of chocolate!

The Charity
The Club pledged to raise first £10,000, and  then £20,000 in fundraising for their chosen charity – Trinity Hospice in Clapham who help over 2000 patients with advanced illnesses and their families every year – and the final total reached over £30,000.

Costs for the attempt itself were kept to an absolute minimal thanks to the generosity of our sponsors: Shell provided free use of their facilities for the entire weekend. Deloitte & Partners, Darwin Rhodes Recruitment and Granherne sponsored the kit, Lucozade Sport provided free energy drinks and snacks and important training and nutritional advice leading up to the event and Masterfoods Confectionary the all-important 3 day supply of chocolate.

For more information on the event please click through the website or contact sarahjenks@hotmail.com