Sack race

A group of children in Fallujah, Iraq, participating in a sack race
Sack race in Sweden, 1931
Sack race in Malaysia, 2023
Potato sack race in Wendell, Massachusetts

A sack race or potato sack race is a competitive game in which participants place both of their legs inside a sack (usually a potato sack) or pillow case that reaches their waist or neck and hop forward from a starting point toward a finish line. The first person to cross the finish line is the winner of the race.

Possible rule changes that people make to the traditional game include using extra large sacks and running inside the sack; however, in some cases such technique may be viewed as cheating.

Sack racing is traditionally seen as an activity for children, but people of any age can compete. In schools, the sack race often takes place on a sports day, along with numerous other events such as the egg and spoon race. It is also a frequent pastime at fairs, birthday parties, and picnics.

Records

The fastest 100 metres sack race time is 25.96 seconds and was achieved by Christian Roberto López Rodríguez in Yuncos, Spain, on 18 November 2020.[1] He also holds the world record for the 200 metres sack race: he completed the distance in a time of 63.88 seconds on 3 January 2021.[2]

The fastest 4×100 metres sack race time is 2 minutes and 29.09 seconds[3] and was achieved by Andrew Rodaughan, Patrick Holcombe, James Osbourne and Luke McFarlane in Beveridge, Australia, on 17 June 2003.[citation needed]

The fastest 1 mile sack race is 16 minutes 41 seconds and was achieved in Baruun Salaa in Mongolia by Ashrita Furman on 19 May 2007.[4] He also holds the record for fastest 10 km sack race, finishing in 1 hour 22 minutes and 2 seconds, achieved in Montauk, USA on 23 April 2001[5]

The record for largest sack race competition, with 2095 competitors, is held by Agnieten College in Zwolle, Netherlands and was won on 11 October 2002.[6]

Fastest 100m sack race—Official Guinness World Records

Stephen Wildish with his 100m sack race world record
Stephen Wildish with his 100m sack race world record
Order Time (s) Athlete Nation Date Location Ref
1 25.96 Christian Roberto López Rodríguez  Spain 18 Nov 2020 Yuncos, Spain [1]
2 26.22 Stephen Wildish  United Kingdom 30 Oct 2017 Swindon, UK [7]
3 39.91 Mo Farah  United Kingdom 14 July 2014 London, UK [8]

Fastest 200m sack race—Official Guinness World Records

Order Time (s) Athlete Nation Date Location Ref
1 63.88 Christian Roberto López Rodríguez  Spain 3 June 2021 Yuncos, Spain [2]
2 64.00 Stephen Wildish  United Kingdom 17 August 2018 Swindon, UK [7]

Fastest 400m sack race—Unofficial World Records

Order Time (s) Athlete Nation Date Location Ref
1 174.00 Stephen Wildish  United Kingdom 17 August 2018 Swindon, UK [9]

References

  1. ^ a b "Fastest 100 metres sack race". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Fastest 200 metres sack race". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Fastest 4 x 100 m sack race (male)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Fastest sack race one mile". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Sack race - fastest 10km". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Largest sack race competition". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Another world record in the sack for Stephen". Swindon Advertiser. 18 August 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Olympics double gold medalist Mo Farah bags sack race record". Guinness World Records. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Sack race Stephen's 400m record bid banned". Swindon Advertiser. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2021.