THE champion and chairman of Halton Table Tennis League are flying high after sharing in the longest rally in history.

Eighteen-year-old Mark Roscaleer, men's singles and handicap title holder, and fellow Runcornian Karen Tonge, who chairs English Table Tennis Association's North West region as well as the local league, are heading for the record books.

The world-beating pair were joined for the successful attempt by five-times national champion Andrea Holt and England's No2 Alex Perry.

They kept going for eight hours 27 minutes - 12 minutes longer than the previous best by American brothers Brian and Steve Seibel.

The attempt in Manchester Airport's Terminal One lounge was officially timed and hopefully will now be ratified as a record in the Guinness Book of Records.

The rally started at 8.57am and ended in triumph at 5.24pm.

Through his efforts, Roscaleer bagged himself two return flights to Asia courtesy of Finnair.

The stunt was part of the launch of the airline's fastest flight connections to Asia from Manchester Airport.

Their chief executive officer Jukka Hienonen said: 'Being able to go down in the record books for the longest table tennis rally is a fantastic success.

'Someone could have travelled half way around the world during the time it took the players to finish!'

Perry did the majority of the record breaking with Holt not far behind.

The Halton duo did their bit by taking the strain when the main protagonists needed a rest.

Afterwards Holt said: 'I'm absolutely shattered. My legs were beginning to cramp up and at one time I even thought the ball was changing shape!'

Roscaleer[20ac]won the Halton singles title for the first time this year - defeating Mal McEvoy, who had held for six years.

A successful 2007 season for the teenager, who had been highly commended in the Halton Sports Awards two years ago, saw him also win the doubles competition at the Liverpool Closed Championships with Polish player Michael Rogala.