Kiwi duo crack world record
A New Zealand duo have cracked the record for the longest throw and catch of an egg.
Robbie Hollander and Nick Hornstein’s 80.77-metre effort was the highlight of the annual World Egg-Throwing Championships, held in the English village of Swaton on June 25.
Hollander, from Dairy Flat and Hornstein, from Christchurch, earlier this year threw a national record 63-metres at the Hilux New Zealand Rural Games.
Having ‘‘soft hands’’ was the secret to catching a record beating egg, 18-year-old Hollander said.
This year’s rural games was Hollander’s third year entering, but his first taking out the event.
News of his mighty feat spread quickly at Orewa College, where he was a year 13 student.
The teachers hadn’t passed up an opportunity to shell out puns to the national champ.
‘‘Ms Ellison had an egg in class and threw it straight at me, and made a corny joke,’’ Hollander said.
‘‘Teachers have been asking me if it’s serious, and all of my friends are taking the piss out of me, but yeah, I’m going to England,’’ he said after winning the rural games.
But the duo almost didn’t make it there.
Having won the rural games title, the duo were invited to compete in the world champs at Swaton, the international home of egg throwing and catching.
Needing to fund the flights themselves, the duo hatched a plan to come up with the money, creating a Givealittle page.
They achieved moderate success, but it wasn’t enough.
That’s where Williment Travel, founded by former All Black Mick Williment, stepped up, sponsoring the duo with the remainder of the money.
‘‘Supporting local Kiwi sports is important to both us and the community, and we anticipate their deft skills to be eggs-ceptional,’’ general manager Adair Cameron said.
Hollander hadn’t let the title ruffle his feathers.
He was staying grounded despite his success.
‘‘You see people beating world records, but you don’t take it into perspective,’’ he said.
‘‘For a sport like rugby, being the world’s best is quite a serious thing, but for egg throwers and catchers, I’m not sure.’’