Men break tyre flipping record
CARLSWALD - Two men broke a world record for lifting, flipping over and passing a tyre to each other for 5km, starting and ending at Carlswald Lifestyle shopping centre, on 16 August.
Between them, Chris Batts and Chris Liebenberg share 23 world records for weight-lifting, now tyre flipping is another one to add to their list.
The world record was broken at an event that was organised by Toys for Africa to raise awareness for Noordwyk’s Yenzani Children’s Home.
Founder of Toys for Africa Danie van Loggerenberg was delighted by the men’s feat.Batts said, “My partner and I flipped a tyre for 5km and we broke the world record in order to show people that if we can flip a tyre to make a difference, so can they.” Liebenberg, agreed with him, saying, “I started this sport about five years ago and it is to show that you can get involved, it is simple and costs nothing. Don’t be scared to attempt anything in life.”
Van Loggerenberg added, “It is fantastic, we wanted to break the record in four hours, 30 minutes, but we broke it in three hours and 26 minutes, which is awesome.”
The day saw around 10 children from the home receive pencil cases with coloured pencils, a ruler and a mathematics set from Toys for Africa.
“People hear [the word] toys and think of a car and a doll, but those only have so much value to add to a child,” Van Loggerenberg said.
Vanessa Hale, office manager at the home, was pleased with the exposure that was offered to them. “Yenzani is a home for seriously abused and abandoned children. We help to turn their lives around.” She said the home’s biggest need was to create awareness of the home within the community.
Midrand police, in partnership with the Midrand Youth Desk and the Community Policing Forum were also there as they are involved with Batts, who is the CEO of Sports Against Crime. Midrand police’s social crime prevention co-ordinator, Constable Nanty Belebesi, said the police encouraged the youth to take up sport rather than engaging in criminal activities.
