Making a splash in world record bid

The lads of the 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster's Regiment prepare for the Slide at Blackpool Sandcastle

But these 10 members of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, based at Weeton Barracks, might well say otherwise this morning.

The team yesterday morning set about riding down the Thunderfalls Waterslide for 24 hours to break four different Guinness World Records.

Captain Andy Miller, who has served in Afghanistan and has previously ran a 30 mile race andcompleted a 24 hour bike ride for charity, admitted that while the slides task was “fantastic” it was tough.

He said: “Everyone thought this would be a nice, easy, cheery challenge but climbing the 60 steps every few minutes was tough.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity though and it’s great to raise money and give something back to the community.”

The team set off at 10am yesterday, aiming to set a new record for the longest distance travelled on a waterslide in 24 hours by a team of 10.

To do so they had to cover the 89.75m long slide every 90 seconds to cover more than 843.33km - the distance covered by the current record holders in Germany in 2009.

The soldiers had to go down the slide a minimum of 9,397 times - that’s around 940 times each, or once every 90 seconds.

And in doing so the team also hoped to set records for the longest distance travelled on a waterslide by an individual in 24 hours, a team of 10 in four hours, and an individual in four hours.

Lieutenant Colonel Hamish Cormack said: “Sandcastle Waterpark wanted to smash the world record so they came to us, as the sort of people who can take on a challenge, and we said yes.

“How many times do you get to break a world record in your life?”

The slide challenge is one of many world record attempts undertaken at the seafront attraction.

Managing director John Childs said: “Most people down a waterslide in an hour was a fun record attempt because it involved the whole community, but this one is our local army regiment raising money for two great charities, it’s a mammoth challenge.”

The team used the event to raise money for both Trinity Hospice, in Bispham, and the Army Benevolent Fund.

The challenge is set to be completed at 10am this morning.