Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s SuperTruffles!
An unassuming Fife guinea pig is jumping for joy after being confirmed among the world’s elite as a new Guineas world record holder.
Young Truffles, lured only by the temptation of his favourite cucumber snack, has smashed a world record for the longest jump ever recorded by a guinea pig.
While it may be some way off human world record of over 29ft, Truffles showed his class by vaulting 30cm with ease, breaking the existing record by nearly 10cm.
Now the galloping guinea pig is a star in the making much to the delight of his owner Chloe Macari (13).
Mum Angela explained the Inverkeithing High School pupil found out about the contest as she flicked through the Guinness Book of Records in the library one day.
She came across the 20.5cm record set by a two-year-old guinea pig called Diesel in London in July 2009 as part of the hoopla surrounding the release of the Disney film G-Force in that summer.
Angela said: ”Chloe knew Truffles had always jumped so tried it out she followed what they had done and set two boxes up at the same distance as the record. He jumped that no problem and continued to break the record.”
While sister Nicole (14) and her guinea pig Truffles’ non-jumping brother, Nibbles and parents Angela and Gordon looked on, Chloe got in touch with Guinness World Records to find out how to get Truffles’ flying feat officially recognised.
Receiving his own Guinness ‘talent manager’, Truffles geared up for his gigantic leap by doing… not very much out of the ordinary, actually.
Meanwhile, Scout Chloe had roped in everyone from the 41st Scouts to witness the terrific Truffles in action.
With detailed requirements for setting a record, official witnesses appointed, cameras and camcorders at the ready, a hush descended on the James Spence Hall as Truffles limbered up.
With everyone making sure he jumped of his own free will, and was in no way pushed, prodded or coerced, he took a running leap straight from Woodside Avenue in Rosyth and into the record books.
And now there may be no stopping him there are other records out there just waiting to be broken, from fastest sprint to highest jump.
Angela said: ”I never thought I’d ever have a world champion in my house!”
She added: ”It was a great night you should’ve seen the faces of the Scouts and my dad, John, was the proud granddad, parading around with Truffles. It was absolutely lovely and the girls are delighted.”
Now with a framed certificate to verify his leap and the promise of a starring role in the publicity for the 2013 Guinness Book of Records launch this autumn, Truffles is having to get used to the limelight.
He even helped Chloe earn part of her Scouting community event badge.