Record Attempt Begins In
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Provisional New World Record*
36h 2m 12s
Matt Noble & Jamie Croft — Newark Town Bowls Club, 1–2 August 2026.
* Provisional time pending Guinness World Records verification.
A World Record Breaking Lawn Bowls Marathon
About the Event
Date
01–02 August 2026
Achieved
36h 2m 12s*
Started
6:15am Saturday
Location
Newark-on-Trent
Matt Noble and Jamie Croft successfully broke the Guinness World Record for the Longest Marathon Playing Outdoor Bowls (Singles). The previous record stood at 32 hours and 34 minutes — they surpassed it with a provisional time of 36 hours, 2 minutes and 12 seconds.
The attempt took place at Newark Town Bowls Club on 1–2 August 2026, beginning at 6:15am on Saturday morning. Every pound raised goes directly to Menfulness, a men's social wellbeing charity both players are passionate about.
Fundraising is still open — please donate if you haven't already.
The Competitors
York, UK
Former national level rower as a teen and regional cycle racer in his 20s and 30s, Matt is used to making his body endure countless pain in the pursuit of peak performance — and over 36 consecutive hours on the green, he proved that once again.
"I'm really looking forward to this challenge. I finally took up bowls last year after having a desire since a kid to take part in the sport, and ever since I saw the current record was 32 hr 34 min I've had it in my mind to try and beat it. To be able to do this, raise the profile of the club, the sport, and the charity we're supporting is all a bonus for me."
Newton Abbot
Having been a national level sprinter in his teens, Jamie is very used to the stress of training for sporting events. Trading sprinting for endurance was never going to be straightforward — but Jamie dug deep and saw it through to the end.
"Having been approached by Matt to join him in this challenge I could not refuse. The opportunity to test my body and mental resilience whilst supporting a cause that has personally impacted on my life is something that I am really excited about. I have only played bowls for a year, but having fallen in love with the sport, I do hope that this event will help people see how the support can help them in their lives."
Guinness World Record
Previous Record
32h 34m
Adam Dally & Carl Rattley
Earls Barton Bowls Club, Northamptonshire
17–18 June 2022
Provisional New Record*
36h 2m 12s
Matt Noble & Jamie Croft — Newark Town Bowls Club, 1–2 August 2026.
The Guinness World Record for the Longest Marathon Playing Outdoor Bowls (Singles) previously stood at 32 hours and 34 minutes, set by Adam Dally and Carl Rattley at Earls Barton Bowls Club, Northamptonshire, on 17–18 June 2022.
In the challenge, two players compete in a continuous singles match for as long as possible — day and night, without stopping. Guinness rules allow only very limited breaks, meaning competitors must maintain concentration, skill, and physical endurance for more than a full day of non-stop competition.
Breaking this record is about far more than simply staying awake. Lawn bowls requires consistent precision, focus, and control — even small lapses in concentration can decide an end. Maintaining that level of performance for over 36 hours is one of the most demanding endurance challenges in the sport — and Matt and Jamie did exactly that.
The attempt was continuously played, carefully documented, and verified by independent witnesses and timekeepers from the English Bowls Umpires Association, with video evidence recorded throughout.
When & Where
Dates
01–02 August 2026
Start & End
6:15am Sat — 6:17pm Sun
Venue
Newark Town Bowls Club, London Rd, Newark-on-Trent NG24 1TS
Provisional Record*
36h 2m 12s of continuous play
Newark Town Bowls Club, London Rd, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire NG24 1TS. The venue of the provisional new world record.
Supporting
Menfulness is a men's social wellbeing group who — through activities and counselling — support and promote improvement in men's lives.
Menfulness is led by 5 blokes from York who, like most of us, have struggled with mental health and the pressures of life. They've found strength in opening up with their fellow man — and they think this should be available to everyone.
As their network grows, more men are joining, many of which are being supported to bring their own ideas into action — funding events, activities, and counselling offers in a friendly, non-judgemental environment.
The record has been broken — but fundraising is still open. Every donation helps fund Menfulness's work supporting men across the UK. Donations are handled securely through JustGiving.
Raised So Far
Over £2,100
for Menfulness — including Gift Aid.
You'll be taken to justgiving.com to complete your donation securely.
From the Green
Official Timekeepers
A Guinness World Record attempt requires continuous independent oversight. These are the people who kept the record honest — verifying every end, logging every hour, and keeping us on the right side of the rules through 36 hours of play.
Nottinghamshire EBUA representative, Kirsty organised all officiating for the attempt — coordinating the umpire rota and ensuring every Guinness World Records requirement was met from the first end to the last. She served as umpire throughout Day 1 of the attempt.
England Learning Disability bowler and umpire-in-training, Harry took on the overnight shift — the toughest stretch of the entire attempt. His determination on and off the green, and his refusal to let his diagnoses of high-functioning autism and ADHD define his limits, made him the perfect person to keep the record on track through the night.
In the News
The story of The Endless Game caught the attention of local press and community publications alike — before, during, and after the record was broken. From pre-event previews to post-record celebrations, here's how Newark and beyond covered it.
New Guinness World Record with 'The Endless Game' at Newark Town Bowls Club
The Newark Advertiser covered the record-breaking weekend in full — reporting on the final time, the scoreline, and the personal challenges both players faced across 36 hours of continuous play.
Matt Noble and Jamie Croft competed in a marathon match lasting 36 hours, two minutes, and 12 seconds — surpassing the previous record of 32 hours and 34 minutes. Jamie ultimately prevailed with a score of 378–359 after completing 435 ends.
The competitors faced considerable obstacles throughout the event. Jamie struggled physically, describing the period between hours 20–24 as "the hardest time," stating: "Walking from end to end was just sheer pain." Matt battled emotional exhaustion, explaining that after 30 hours without sleep, setbacks felt "heartbreaking." Despite these challenges, the experience inspired several spectators to join Newark Town Bowls Club as new members.
This is an extract. Read the full article at the Newark Advertiser →
"They've bloody done it! A World Record has been broken in Newark!"
Newark Guide — a community publication covering Newark-on-Trent — celebrated the record with this post on 3 August, the day after the attempt concluded.
"After more than 36 gruelling hours on the green, Matt Noble and Jamie Croft have successfully surpassed the previous Guinness World Record for the Longest Marathon Playing Outdoor Bowls (Singles), right here at Newark Town Bowls Club. They surpassed the previous record with a provisional time of 36 hours, 2 minutes and 12 seconds."
"Over the weekend of the 1st and 2nd August 2026, Matt and Jamie were out there rolling bowls, battling fatigue, aching legs, sleep deprivation, and probably questioning every life decision that had led them to this point. But they kept going — and they've done it."
"A historic local club. Two determined people with a slightly mad idea. A brilliant charitable cause. And a community getting behind them. This is the stuff that makes living here special."
This is an extract. View the full post on Facebook →
Guinness World Record attempt for longest marathon playing outdoor bowls in Newark-on-Trent
Four days before the attempt, Newark Guide published this preview — building anticipation across the local community and telling the story of Newark Town Bowls Club itself.
"This coming weekend, Newark Town Bowls Club will become the stage for a genuine Guinness World Records attempt, as Matt Noble and Jamie Croft set out to break the record for the Longest Marathon Playing Outdoor Bowls (Singles). The current record stands at 32 hours and 34 minutes, and they're aiming to push beyond 36 hours of continuous play."
"If successful, a Guinness World Record will have been broken right here in Newark-on-Trent. Not London. Not Manchester. Not Birmingham. Newark."
"Many people hear about Newark Town Bowls Club without giving it a second thought, yet it is home to one of Newark's oldest sporting institutions. Founded in 1809, it proudly claims the title of Nottinghamshire's oldest bowling club. Long before football leagues, before international football matches had even been played, local bowlers were already rolling woods across the green here."
This is an extract. View the full post on Facebook →
Aiming to break Guinness World Record with 'The Endless Game' at Newark Town Bowls Club
Ahead of the attempt, the Newark Advertiser profiled Matt and Jamie — exploring what drove two relative newcomers to bowls to take on one of the sport's most gruelling endurance challenges.
Noble explained his inspiration simply: "I just wondered one day what the longest game of bowls on record was. When it came back at just over 32 hours, I thought, yeah, I can do that." Croft added that the challenge represents something larger: "We wanted to do something that was bigger than ourselves — create something that would bring our community together while raising awareness."
Remarkably, both players have competed at elite levels in other sports — Noble was a national-level rower and regional cycle racer, while Croft competed as a national sprinter — yet both have played bowls for only about one year.
This is an extract. Read the full article at the Newark Advertiser →
On the Green
A Guinness World Record attempt requires independent witnesses and markers throughout. These are the people who gave their time to ensure every end was fairly counted and correctly recorded.
Coming Soon
Full witness and marker list being compiled.
Backing the Challenge
A welcoming lawn bowls club based in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, providing the stage for this record attempt. The club hosts high-quality outdoor greens and a friendly community for bowlers of all ages.
The EBUA is the unified governing body for qualified Bowls Umpires in England. With over 500 members, they provide the independent verification and timekeeping required by Guinness World Records.
Head of Foundation at Fortus, Voluntary Trustee at Menfulness, and Player Welfare Manager at York Knights & Newcastle Thunder. Matty brings expertise and deep passion for men's wellbeing to the challenge.
Get Involved
The Endless Game is bigger than two people on a green. We're looking for media partners, volunteers, and sponsors to help make the attempt — and the coverage around it — as big as possible.
Media
Press & Coverage
We've broken the record — and we'd love to tell the story. If you're a journalist, podcaster, or content creator covering sport, endurance, or men's mental health, we're available for interviews and can provide photography and footage from across the 36 hours.
media@theendlessgame.co.ukSponsorship
Back Matt & Jamie
The record was just the beginning. Matt and Jamie are continuing to compete as a pair on the regional circuit, with ambitions to push toward national level. If your business wants to be part of that journey — with brand presence at tournaments, on social media, and across our growing audience — we'd love to hear from you.
sponsor@theendlessgame.co.uk