CHS Teacher Referees in Record-Breaking Rugby Charity Event
Cheadle Hulme School is delighted to celebrate the remarkable contribution of Junior School Teacher Mr Jonny Cartwright, who recently refereed in ‘The Longest Game’, a charity event that successfully smashed the Guinness World Records for the longest continuous rugby matches for both men’s and women’s teams.
Supported by the British & Irish Lions, Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby and LooseHeadz, the mental health rugby charity set out on a mission to break the Guinness World Record for the longest rugby games ever played and raise over £100k for charities.
The attempt was a success as the men’s game impressively lasted for 34 hours and 48 minutes, while the women’s match continued for 26 hours and 33 minutes, setting new world records and marking a historic achievement for all involved.
Over the two days, Mr Cartwright spent 10 hours and 49 minutes refereeing, assisted for another 8 hours, and covered an incredible 22.9 miles on the pitch. All on just 1 hour and 42 minutes of sleep!
It was Mr Cartwright’s commitment to the altruistic nature of rugby which paved the way for his involvement in the record attempt: “I currently referee for Manchester Referee Society and after the death of a rugby player in the North West of England I became more involved in the refereeing of charity rugby matches and events for Looseheadz.” He added, “As a result of my refereeing connection with Looseheadz, I was invited to be part of the refereeing team for this event.”
Looseheadz is a charity dedicated to promoting positive mental health messages within the rugby community, offering support and raising awareness through their initiatives, including charity matches against their own team, the Looseheadz Barbarians. Wooden Spoon focuses on providing vital support for children, including opportunities for those facing financial difficulties, access to sport for children with disabilities, and dedicated spaces for those requiring additional help. In total, over £115,000 was raised for both LooseHeadz and Wooden Spoon.
“I’ve been asked ‘did I enjoy it?’ by a lot of people… It’s difficult to enjoy something that’s so mentally and physically exhausting, especially during the stretch between 12 am and 4:30 am, when it’s cold and dark. What I do take away is the immense sense of pride having taken part and pushed myself outside of my comfort zone and being able to show the children I teach, as well as my own children, what you can achieve when you put your mind to something.”
