What has more than 1,000 legs and a Guinness World Record?
The correct answer is the world’s biggest three-legged race, which was held by pupils from Perth Academy and Viewlands Primary School.
A total of 518 energetic pairs, including a bewildered Courier reporter, completed a short circuit to smash the record formerly held by Ichinomiya Junior High in Japan, which stood at 502 pairs.
Pupils, teachers and parents all joined together to take part in the event, which was organised by senior pupils to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
After Megan, Max and Lewis Avolio lost their mother to the disease last year, the school, led by head boy Harry MacPherson, decided to show its support by giving something back to the charity that provided vital help to the family.
The sports ambassador for Perth Academy, Rachel Bonthrone, told The Courier: “We decided to do a three-legged race because we wanted to do something that would bring everyone together and involve the whole school.
“Everyone has been really good at taking part and they’ve all been really keen to do their bit.”
The 18-year-old, who had the tough job of acting as marshal and keeping everyone in line, revealed they had encountered difficulties with weather and other issues, resulting in the event being cancelled twice.
She didn’t let that faze her, however.
“I’ve had a really good time doing this,” Rachel added.
“This is the first time I’ve been involved in a world record attempt it’s not something you do every day, but it’s been great helping to organise it.”
By asking each participant to donate at least £2 to become part of the unique event, the school hopes to have raised at least £2,000 for Macmillan.
Fund-raising manager for Tayside, Shirlie Geddes, said she was “extremely grateful” for their efforts, adding: “We could not offer the much-needed support we do without this kind of help.
“In Perth and Kinross alone, over 800 people are diagnosed with cancer each year.”
Andy Smith, rector of Perth Academy, praised his pupils’ “amazing achievement” and was at the finish line to applaud everyone as they passed, particularly the last pair primary four pupils Joanne Hill and Taylor Brooks, who became the 518th couple to hobble past the official counters, securing Perth’s place in the record books.