Wheelchair basketballers aim to break world record

With many records being broken over at the Olympic Games, a group of inspired young South West athletes are undertaking a world record attempt of their own in Stoke Gifford this weekend by aiming to play the longest ever wheelchair basketball game.

The South West Scorpions will be attempting to break the record on Saturday and Sunday 11th/12th August at the WISE campus of South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (Formerly Filton College) in New Road.

The current record stands at an astonishing 26 hours but the Scorpions are hoping to smash it by playing for 30 hours

Business advisory firm Deloitte will be sponsoring the event as part of their on-going support of Disability Sport, including funding athletes through Sport Aid’s Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS).

Andrew Jones, business partner at Deloitte, comments on the event:

“We are passionate champions of disability sport and very pleased to support this ambitious record attempt. Events like these are very important in driving participation and improving performance to help secure podium finishes for GB athletes at future Paralympic Games.”

Carol Hearne is organising the weekend event and her son Ben Fox, a TASS athlete, will also be taking part in the record attempt. Carol adds:

“It’s going to be really tough but the team are so dedicated to seeing it through I really believe they can do it. We’re very glad to have the backing of Deloitte who have provided great support to the Scorpions and Paralympics GB.”

The attempt will begin at 10am on Saturday and the public are invited to go along and support the teams. Entrance will be free, though there will be donation buckets around the hall for the duration of the attempt. Refreshments will be available throughout the event, and there will be on-going activities, including ‘have a go at wheelchair basketball’, giant Jenga and a ‘design a basketball t-shirt ‘competition.

If successful, the Scorpions will be following in the footsteps of another local sports team that broke the record for the world’s longest hockey match in May last year. South Gloucestershire Hockey Club earned a place in the record books with a 31-hour marathon match at Bradley Stoke Community School.

Photo: South West Scorpions at a training session in October 2011.