Blackburn has been placed firmly on the global sporting map after a local padel centre successfully staged and completed a Guinness World Records attempt.
CLUBHOUSE, based at Hyndburn Retail Park in Whitebirk Drive, achieved the world’s longest padel rally (doubles) after four players kept a single rally going for a full hour without a break.
The Guinness World Record attempt took place on Friday, January 30.
Over the course of 60 minutes, the players completed a total of 4,447 legal hits, officially setting a new world record and becoming the first holders of the title.
The record was achieved by Mark Friend, Noah Heap, Jamie Lynn, and Zak Holgate, and was verified by Guinness World Records as the longest padel rally in doubles ever recorded.
The challenge had never been attempted before, making the Blackburn achievement a world-first for the sport.
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Padel, one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, is usually played in doubles on an enclosed court where players can use the surrounding glass walls to keep the rally alive.
During the attempt, every clean hit that crossed the net and landed legally in the court was counted, including volleys and shots rebounding off the glass.
Once the rally began, there could be no stoppages. Any error, missed shot or interruption would have immediately ended the attempt.
CLUBHOUSE said the attempt was about more than simply chasing a number, with the challenge designed to showcase the club’s growing padel community and highlight the sport’s appeal.
The four players involved had been complete strangers less than six months earlier, before being brought together through the CLUBHOUSE padel community.
Following the challenge, Zak Holgate, one of the participants, said: "It might look easy on paper, but it was quite tough mentally just to stay focused all the time.
"Everyone who works here is so welcoming, and I couldn't recommend the place enough.
"I didn't know these guys six months ago, and here we are doing a world record together!"
Lewis Unwin, one of the managers at CLUBHOUSE, said: "We're massive on building a community.
"We've only been open since late last year, but the community has been growing every single day.
"Hosting an event like this brings that together completely."
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