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Doug Hunt honoured with World Record display

Local NewsDoug Hunt honoured with World Record display

Over 20 people joined Doug “the Great” Hunt for the unveiling of the new Stilt Walking Guinness World Record display at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre on Monday, December 2, 2024.

Hunt, who originally set the stilt walking record back on September 14, 2002 when he took 29 steps on top stilts that measured 50 feet, 9 inches in height (137 pounds), set a new Guinness World Record for Tallest Stilts ever mastered after taking 14 unassisted steps on stilts measuring 55 feet in height on Saturday, October 21, 2023.

The new display features his 140 pound carbon fibre stilts, which now hang horizontally from the ceiling of the sports centre, the Brantford Bulldogs jersey that Hunt wore during his attempt, the 2023 Guinness World Record certificate and the certificate for his successful attempt for Tallest and Heaviest Stilts ever mastered in 2002, two promotional posters and a large photo of Hunt as he made his most recent record breaking attempt.

Doug Hunt unveils the new Stilt Walking Guinness World Record display plaque during its unveiling at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre on Monday, December 2, 2024.

During the unveiling, Kevin Davis, Mayor for the City of Brantford, praised Hunt and the 2023 Stilt Walking Support Team for their efforts.

“I want to thank you for being here today to commemorate what truly was and is, a historic accomplishment by Doug,” said Davis. “I know I speak on behalf of all the members of Council, City staff and, of course, the citizens of our city, when I say that we’re so grateful for the dedication, the passion, and the commitment of Doug and his fantastic team. …Doug, we’re so proud of your accomplishment, and we’re all truly honoured to be part of this incredible moment in Branford’s history.”

Hunt then explained that what started off as plans to celebrate the anniversary of his first attempt, quickly snowballed into something bigger.  

“I remember, I was meeting with Dave [Levac] and Tom Rollins at Starbucks because we were just going to do an anniversary wine and cheese party. I was a little upset because we had the record, but then Guinness made it easier,” recalled Hunt. “It was 25 forward steps back in 2002 when we did 29 steps, and then a few years later they changed it to ten steps. I was all upset because a guy from China, and then a guy from Australia, and then a young guy from America all beat my record. I was kind of complaining to Dave because they made it more simple and he said ‘no, you’re not going to appeal it, we’re going to take it back.’”

Dave Levac, Team Leader for the 2023 Stilt Walking Support Team, Doug Hunt, Sherry Kerr, Executive Director of Participation Support Services, and Kevin Davis, Mayor for the City of Brantford pose for a photo during the unveiling of the Stilt Walking Guinness World Record display at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre on Monday, December 2, 2024.

He then credited Levac for helping to put together his support team, as well as his niece, Tammy Hunt, and her fundraising committee, as well as all the others who made his vision possible from the training to the day he took back his record. 

Noting that the money raised leading up to and after the attempt, all went to Participation Support Services, Hunt said that while the record attempt was indeed a challenge, it serves as a reminder that there are those living with challenges every day. 

“Let’s not forget why we did this, not only to get me in the air and get me walking in the air again with a knee brace, but to support people who can’t walk,” said Hunt. “It was an opportunity to help them.”

To end the event, Hunt and Sherry Kerr, Executive Director of Participation Support Services and his boss, announced that $28,000 was raised for the residents, tenants and clients of Participation Support Services.

Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.

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