News | Thursday, 28th March 2019
MMU Rounders confident of world record
The team host 148 people in one rounders match
Students at Manchester Metropolitan University may have made history in setting a Guinness World Record for the largest rounders match recorded.
The MMU Rounders team are confident they have secured the record after managing to herd up a total of 148 people from across the University. They hope to break the record of 118 that is currently held by Burnley Leisure.
The record will now be validated by Guinness World Records adjudicators who will analyse images and videos from the day.
The rounders committee organised the event as part of their ongoing attempt to raise awareness of their team throughout the University and also raise money for Manchester Mind – a charity that supports better mental health for everyone in Manchester.
The team managed to raise £650 from the event, and since September have raised more than £6,000 for the charity.
Mental health
Joseph McCarthy, MMU Rounders’ social secretary, came up with the idea.
He said: “My main aim for this year was to organise unique events that get our team, the University and the community together to raise awareness for mental health.
“Some students experience mental health issues at university and MMU Rounders hope to help those who are in need. I never thought I would organise and beat a world record during my university experience and it is something that I’ll forever be proud of.”
Proud
Phoebe Baldwin, member of the rounders team, said: “The world record attempt was a brilliant opportunity to get everyone involved in playing rounders and see how much fun it is.
“We are all immensely proud of what we have accomplished – beating the record by 30 people!
“MMU Rounders would like to thank everyone who made the effort to come and support us on the day, especially the sports teams within the Athletics Union, as without them we wouldn’t have beat the record.”
Rounders England
The match, which was help at the University’s Platt Lane sports complex, was umpired by officials from Rounders England, Alayah Murphy and Rose Batty.
Murphy said: “To be part of the Manchester Met Guinness World Record attempt was amazing. Not only did Manchester Met break the record, they smashed it!
“We are proud as a governing body to see so many people involved in rounders. The atmosphere was electric and I think I can definitely say everyone enjoyed it as much as we did.
“MMU Rounders did a fantastic job of raising the profile of rounders as a sport and Manchester Mind, and we’d like to thank them.
“It was such an honour to officiate the game, and we are very proud of MMU Rounders for the work going in to organising such an event.
“Again, congratulations on the record smash!”
MMU Rounders have now sent their videos and images to the official Guinness World Records adjudicators for the record to be validated.
