Me and my big mouth...

When a press conference was held last August to confirm that the legendary New Zealand All Blacks would be using Darlington as their training base for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, I said something a bit silly.

"Darlington should celebrate by breaking the world record for the number of people performing the Haka," I casually suggested.

The idea took root and Mowden Park RFU - the club that makes things happen - starting planning the world record bid for the number of people performing the traditional Maori dance in one place.

Mowden Park RFU have surprised everyone, me included, with their ambition and professionalism. They have breathed new life into the white elephant of what was once Darlington Football Club's arena. They have attracted one of the world's most iconic sporting teams to the town. And now they have managed to organise a world record Haka bid involving 5,000 local schoolchildren.

Oh yes, this is the club which makes things happen, alright. It is one thing to have a nice idea. It takes much more to turn it into a reality.

It will be six weeks before we know whether Darlington's mass Haka has replaced the existing record of 4,027 participants at the Stade Amédée Domenech in Brive-la-Gaillarde, France, on September 27, 2014. Guinness officials will check video footage to make sure that enough children were performing correctly. No pressure.

But for now, while we wait, let's just take pride in a joyous occasion which - record or not - has showcased the fun side of Darlington around the world.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that in six weeks or so Darlington will be celebrating good news from Guinness...let's hope those 5,000 enthusiastic youngsters can look back in years to come and tell their own children: "Hey, I helped break a world record."