One of the most iconic British athletics teams has been reunited for a race with a difference. Kriss Akabusi, Derek Redmond, Roger Black and John Regis made sporting history in 1991 when they fought off stiff competition at the Tokyo World Championships to win gold in the 4×400 metre relay.

Now, for the first time in 24 years, the boys are back for a race with a difference. This time, instead of working as a team, they are competing against each other. Not only that but they’ve swapped their batons for lawnmowers!

Derek Redmond, Roger Black, John Regis and Kriss Akabusi in 1991 . . . and now!

To mark the launch of its new InStart® lawnmower starting system, petrol engine manufacturer Briggs & Stratton, reunited the famous 1991 World Championship gold medal winning team.  Proceedings were led by Fifth Gear presenter and engine expert Tiff Needell.

InStart is the easiest starting system ever for petrol powered lawnmowers, so the athletes were right at home with quick and easy starting as soon as they left their running blocks!

Ahead of the race, whilst the fighting talk was mounting Kriss Akabusi enthused: “I was born ready! I’m ready for the boys – they’re all talk and no trousers! I’m the old man of the team but the guys know that I lead them forward!”

Briggs & Stratton is the world’s largest producer of air-cooled petrol engines for lawnmowers and is internationally recognised as a market leader in innovation. It believes that its InStart instant starting system is set to revolutionise the petrol powered garden products market. The system, which is powered by a lithium-ion battery, is simple to recharge and can give more than 50 starts from one hour’s charge.

With the revolutionary InStart system there is no need to pull the traditional recoil cord to start lawnmower engines, just push a button or turn a key and you’re off!        

Briggs & Stratton invited the four legendary athletes to tackle the challenges faced by British gardeners, including the weather and a gnome slalom, and they embarked upon the Briggs & Stratton InStart Lawnmower Race.

To see the race and find out who won watch the video below.