Set over Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 July 2023, the longest marathon playing rounders took place over 24 hr 34 min and 18 sec.
This new Guinness World Record took place at EIS Sheffield, UK.
Adam Oxley, sports journalist at BBC Radio Sheffield lead two rounders teams, TOFS vs NALGO, to achieve this new world title. Thirty eight year-old Adam was inspired by his father Glen, who played rounders for decades representing both South Yorkshire and England.
The charity event was organised to mark the four-year anniversary of Glen’s passing, to help raise money for Ashgate Hospice in Chesterfield where he received end of life care.
Adam made his application to Guinness World Records to attempt the longest marathon playing rounders, knowing that there was no previous record holder. To officially achieve the record, there was a 7 page document of guidelines that had to be followed, including the minimum playing time of 24 hours. A proportion of the guidelines were around the rules of rounders, so it was vital that Rounders England’s got involved.
The challenge for the world record would see the same group of 30 players attempt to achieve the longest rounders marathon by playing the game non-stop for 24 hours. The teams were made up from Adam’s family and friends as well as athletes on the Rounders England Talent Pathway, coaches, umpires and Rounders England staff.
NALGO eventually beat TOFS by 25½ innings to 7½ innings after 33 completed innings.
Adam Oxley, organiser of Glen’s Ashgate Challenge, said:
It’s incredible to think we’re now world record holders after this summer’s charity challenge for Ashgate Hospice. I wanted to leave a real rounders legacy for my dad Glen, to mark his achievements in the game, so to see our names in the history books, in his memory, is something really special.
The 24-hour roundersathon after our 66-mile walk has helped to raise over £9,500 for Ashgate Hospice, which would not have been possible without the support of Rounders England. Ashgate needs £8m in funding every year to ensure they can continue to offer vital end-of-life care and bereavement support to families like mine, at the most difficult times.
In particular, I’d like to thank Rachael Lomas from Rounders England who worked closely with me to organise the roundersathon, as well as the umpires and players from the rounders community who took part.”
Rounders England CEO, Natalie Justice-Dearn, said
When Adam approached Rounders England in early 2023 to talk about his idea to set a new Guinness World Record, we were all in to support him to achieve his dream. It was really important to everyone in the organisation that we used our platform to raise awareness of this challenge, in memory of Adam’s rounders playing dad, Glen.
It’s incredible that there are now two Guinness World Records attributed to rounders and even more remarkable that the Longest Marathon Playing Rounders was set and achieved as Rounders England celebrates its 80th year as the sports National Governing Body. It’s the perfect addition to this milestone year.”
There are currently 53,000 Guinness World Records. The Longest Marathon Playing Rounders is recorded here.
