A group of children in Fallujah, Iraq, participating in a sack race
Sack race in Sweden, 1931
Sack race in Malaysia, 2023

A sack race is a competitive game in which participants place both of their legs inside a sack (usually a potato sack) or pillow case that reaches their waist or neck and hop forward from a starting point toward a finish line. The first person to cross the finish line is the winner of the race.

Possible rule changes that people make to the traditional game include using extra large sacks and running inside the sack; however, in some cases such technique may be viewed as cheating.

Sack racing is traditionally seen as an activity for children, but people of any age can compete. In schools, the sack race often takes place on a sports day, along with numerous other events such as the egg and spoon race. It is also a frequent pastime at fairs, birthday parties, and picnics.

Records

The fastest 100 metres sack race time is 25.96 seconds and was achieved by Christian Roberto López Rodríguez in Yuncos, Spain, on 18 November 2020. He also holds the world record for the 200 metres sack race: he completed the distance in a time of 63.88 seconds on 3 January 2021.

The fastest 4×100 metres sack race time is 2 minutes and 29.09 seconds and was achieved by Andrew Rodaughan, Patrick Holcombe, James Osbourne and Luke McFarlane in Beveridge, Australia, on 17 June 2003.[citation needed]

The fastest 1 mile sack race is 16 minutes 41 seconds and was achieved in Baruun Salaa in Mongolia by Ashrita Furman on 19 May 2007. He also holds the record for fastest 10 km sack race, finishing in 1 hour 22 minutes and 2 seconds, achieved in Montauk, USA on 23 April 2001

The record for largest sack race competition, with 2095 competitors, is held by Agnieten College in Zwolle, Netherlands and was won on 11 October 2002.

Fastest 100m sack race—Official Guinness World Records

Stephen Wildish with his 100m sack race world record
Stephen Wildish with his 100m sack race world record
OrderTime (s)AthleteNationDateLocationRef
125.96Christian Roberto López RodríguezSpain18 Nov 2020Yuncos, Spain
226.22Stephen WildishUnited Kingdom30 Oct 2017Swindon, UK
339.91Mo FarahUnited Kingdom14 July 2014London, UK

Fastest 200m sack race—Official Guinness World Records

OrderTime (s)AthleteNationDateLocationRef
163.88Christian Roberto López RodríguezSpain3 June 2021Yuncos, Spain
264.00Stephen WildishUnited Kingdom17 August 2018Swindon, UK

Fastest 400m sack race—Unofficial World Records

OrderTime (s)AthleteNationDateLocationRef
1174.00Stephen WildishUnited Kingdom17 August 2018Swindon, UK

External links

  • Media related to Sack racing at Wikimedia Commons