Squashed: Mark breaks world record

Angus man Mark James smashed a world squash record in a gruelling weekend endurance event.

In a fundraiser for a Kenyan orphanage project, squash professional and masters internationalist Mark, 48, played 78 matches in 22 strengthsapping hours to shatter the previous record of 69 matches over 32 hours.

Through the squashathon he hopes to raise at least £5,000 for the Nyumbani project for HIV orphans, which is an international charity his mother is closely involved with.

Training – which included countless hours on court and a walk from Montrose to Banchory and back – paid off for the former military PT trainer in the Montrose sports centre.

He played the first shot at 9pm on Friday night and was allowed just a fiveminute break every hour en route to the record.

Donations can still be made at www.justgiving.com/markjames81066.

Mark on his way to breaking the record and helping the orphanage project.

Pictures: Paul Reid.