Going for a batting world record in Ladysmith

Ladysmith could be the scene of a Guinness World Record in January! Moves are afoot to set a unique Guinness World Record at the Indoor Sports Complex during the weekend of January 24, 25 and 26 next year.

The Northern Districts Cricket Union (NDCU) has set in motion the process to have a unique event catalogued and verified by authorised adjudicators to authenticate a 50-hour Bat-a-thon. This event will feature non-stop batting from 3pm on Friday 24th till Sunday 26th. The batting will be done by teams from various cricket fraternities, schools and the corporate sector. The beneficiaries will be Child Welfare and the Cancer Association of South Africa.

To hold the interest of spectators, there will be a car sound competition, show ‘n shine competition, stalls, musical entertainment, a thunnee competition and a pool competition. The NDCU has received the blessing and support of the Department of Sport & Recreation for this epoch milestone. Negotiations are ongoing to invite members of the Dolphins cricket team as well.

Suggestions that the event provide a camping site will be considered at the next meeting of the NDCU and permission obtained from the relevant departments.

According to a spokesperson of the NDCU, “We are determined to move a national spotlight on our town during the last weekend in January 2014 and we are very excited to have the Ladysmith Gazette, the Department of Sport & Recreation and the Emnambithi/Ladysmith Municipality as support. We are aware of a Guinness World Record of a non-stop cricket match, but our occasion will feature a single person batting for an hour and handing over to his / her partner to continue for the next hour and so forth. We will provide the public with more details via the Ladysmith Gazette in future editions.”

More details can be elicited from Rehaz Khan on 083-626-9721 or Mike Pillay on 083-689-0673.