Crunch time for world record attempt

A hall full of Fernridge School pupils each bit deep into an apple yesterday in a world record bid involving more than 18,000 pupils across New Zealand.

Fernridge School teachers Kim Sutherland and Sarah Harrowfield co-ordinated the school contribution yesterday afternoon to the world record attempt for the most people eating an apple simultaneously.

The current world record is held by a group of American schools from Muskegon County in Michigan and stands at 9329.

Pupils at Lakeview School were also involved along with more than 60 other primary schools stretching from Kaitaia to Dunedin, and a live countdown to the simultaneous "crunch" was broadcast by Olympic silver medallist Sarah Walker on Classic Hits FM from about 2pm yesterday.

The timing of the event fitted perfectly with a focus on healthy eating at Fernridge School this month, she said, and the attempt had utterly captured the attention of the pupils.

"They're really into it because we're breaking a world record."

Ms Sutherland said 164 apples had been set aside for the bid at the Masterton school.

The event is being organised by national fruit marketing board ENZA as a way of promoting a healthy eating message and celebrating the new season's Jazz apples, which ENZA provided free for the attempt.

Ms Sutherland said an optional dollar coin donation was sought from participating pupils and all funds raised during the event would be donated to children's charity, Kidscan.