Posted on 02/27/2006 7:41:09 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
A QUEENSLAND city has swilled its way into the record books after staging the world's biggest pub crawl.
Maryborough, better known for its heritage buildings and industrial background, has given itself a whole new image after Guinness World Records officially verified the city's quirky claim last Friday.
About 2000 of Maryborough's 26,000 population crawled their way around 16 pubs last June in a first attempt to break the record.
More than 19,000 drinks were downed after drinkers were required to sink at least one drink at each pub – alcoholic or not – to qualify.
Official "crawl cards" were stamped at each pub before the results were sent to record officials.
Maryborough city councillor Anne Noia said only 1198 participants officially returned their cards at the end of the crawl.
"We think we had about 2000 crawlers in total but some people might have been a bit 'confused' at the end and didn't hand them in," she said today.
Drinkers were required to visit 10 pubs in six hours under the rules.
Maryborough is 260km north of Brisbane and part of the Wide Bay region, which was two weeks ago named the happiest place in Australia in a national wellbeing survey.
"Maryborough's the heart of the Wide Bay, which has been named the happiest region in Australia, so perhaps that has something to do with it," Ms Noia said of the city's newfound title.
Maryborough will host the crawl again on June 11 in a bid to break its own record.
At least 3000 crawlers are expected to join in the fun.
"It's certainly gaining legs and now that we've officially got the record, we'll be trying very hard to keep breaking our own record," Ms Noia said.
You have to admire that kind of determination.
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