Robin Hoods dress for world record success

Breaking world records is a funny business. Based on my experiences of watching kids' television in the 1990s, it normally involves doing something so pointless or unpleasant that those are more to be pitied than praised.

"158 consecutive hours in a bath full of congealed baked beans, with just a hug from Cheryl Baker and a badly-made medal as a reward?", I remember thinking to myself as a cynical teenager. "Not likely."

At first glance, you might think something similar about Nottingham Castle's efforts at assembling the biggest ever gathering of Robin Hood impersonators.

But the practice of dressing up as Notts' favourite son with hundreds of like-minded people actually has a long (ish...well actually less than a year) and glorious tradition in the county.

Nottingham Building Society set the ball rolling with 165 in April, though several months later Ravenshead Primary School's improved mark of 307 was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records. The current record of 606 was set in October.

Thanks to the power of social networking site Facebook, news of the latest attempt on March 8 has spread like wildfire among Nottingham's student community.

Doubtless many Evening Post readers have their own plans for the day, so why not let us know by e-mailing here? Any particularly impressive or zany attempts might well earn you a place on the Evening Post's website.

For my part, I'm putting myself forward for potential humiliation by getting dressed up as Robin Hood for a pre-event costume challenge in a couple of weeks. But more on that later...

Given the anticipated numbers for the event and the relative scarcity of green tunics, green tights and hats with feathers in them, I'm starting to wonder if the mass deluge of Robins on Nottingham city centre might have some unexpected consequences.

Sales of Robin Hood outfits on eBay could go through the roof. The market value of companies which make green felt could explode, stunning stock brokers in the City.

I suppose taking advantage of this astute financial insight might constitute insider trading, though now I've mentioned on this website I'll probably get away with it. But don't be surprised if Nottingham's charity shops are busier than normal between now and March 8.