Warwick Academy's basketball players netted themselves a world record yesterday when they left the court after the longest game in history.

The students played non-stop for an amazing 26 hours and 32 minutes at Bermuda College Gym, eclipsing the previous mark of 24 hours which was set in November, 1998, by the Suncoast Clippers at the Maroochydore Basketball Stadium in Queensland, Australia.

The event was part of the Random Acts of Kindness Day, which hopes to raise more than $10,000 for Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

Two teams took part in the match, which began on Saturday at 4 p.m. and ended just after 6.30 p.m. yesterday.

Time and scorekeepers ensured everything was in accordance with Guinness World Records regulations, while medics were on hand in case of problems. The players brought along their sleeping bags so they could catch a few hours of shuteye and food was provided so they could boost their reserves of energy.

Both teams had 12 players - boys and girls - and five from each side were allowed on the court at any one time with a substitute on hand to replace anyone suffering from tiredness. The one-hour games were played in shifts, with a total of 27 completed by the end of the event.

"All we had to do was bring our will to win and bring our strength," said a the delighted captain of the Warwick Academy Varsity team, Justin Simmons.

"It's good to be in this position right now, being a world record holder.

"Somebody may come along and beat us eventually but there is a feeling of satisfaction among the kids now. We accomplished it, everybody came through and we are enjoying being in this position."

Simmons, 18, said there were no injuries, although several people had suffered cramp.

"The hardest part was running up and down the court after such a long time," said Simmons. "Fatigue set in around 12 a.m. Sunday morning for all of us."

Despite their tiredness Simmons said there was no chance they were going to miss out on the record, or, for that matter, even settle for adding just a couple of minutes onto the previous 24 hour mark.

"I don't think my team was satisfied. We wanted to get past the record and go for the 26 (hours). The last game we played was such an intense one," he said. Despite their achievement all those involved have to go straight back to school today.

"Everyone is just going to go home, get a good night's rest and hopefully not fall asleep in class," said Simmons.

Warwick headmaster Robert Lennox has some idea of what his students went through, having taken part in a similar event himself some years ago.

"They were very strong, up until about 2 a.m. they treated it as a real basketball game," said the former sports teacher. "In fact, when I came back yesterday afternoon you wouldn't think it was anything but real play. That surprised me because I have done one of these myself for 12 hours in England and it was very, very hard."

Lennox said he was extremely proud to be associated with his new record breakers.

"I think it's amazing," he said. "It says an awful lot for their morale and their spirit. They really wanted to do it.

"When you are a schoolkid you dream about world records and I am sure it will make them feel great. I am just proud of the fact that it's Warwick Academy's name that they want to put in there."