NINE of the North-East's longest throwers are flexing their muscles for a crack at a 119-year-old world best, tonight.
The Northern Echo's Greatest Throw on Earth competition reaches its climax this evening, under the glare of the floodlights and the gaze of Sky Sports cameras, at Durham County Cricket Club's Riverside ground, at Chester-le-Street.
As part of the package of entertainment lined up for Durham Dynamos' floodlit Norwich Union League clash with Hampshire Hawks, the contest will take place during the break between innings, at about 7pm.
The winner will take home a DVD player, but should any of the throwers beat the world record, they will take home £5,000, courtesy of The Northern Echo.
Left-hander Robert Percival hurled a ball 128.6 metres (422ft) during a contest staged on the Sands racecourse, in Durham City, on Easter Monday, in April, 1882.
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