Have you ever dreamed about beating a Guinness World Record and having your name immortalized in the record books?
For some people in Lancashire that dream has become a reality.
Dozens of records have been smashed on the county’s soil- and we have rounded up some of the more unusual titles.
What is a Guinness World Record Title?
According to the company website, Guinness World Records document and celebrate superlative achievements that are the best of the world.
However, the team have strict policies about what is classes as a record.
Each record title must fulfil all of the following criteria. They must be:
- Measurable – Can it be measured objectively? What is the unit of measurement? We do not accept applications based on subjective variables. For example - beauty, kindness, loyalty.
- Breakable – Can the record be broken? Our record titles must be open to being challenged.
- Standardisable - Can the record be repeated by someone else? Is it possible to create a set of parameters and conditions that all challengers can follow?
- Verifiable - Can the claim be proven? Will there be accurate evidence available to prove it occurred?
- Based on one variable - Is the record based on one superlative and measured in one unit of measurement?
- The best in the world - Has anyone else done better? If your record suggestion is new then Guinness World Records will set a challenging minimum requirement for you to beat.
World Records documents and celebrates superlative achievements that are
Guinness World Records that have been smashed in Lancashire
- Longest distance pushing a lawn mower in 24 hours
Andy Maxfield broke this record in June 2019.
The dad from Inskip currently holds the record when he pushed a lawnmower 56.66 miles around Ewood Park in Blackburn.
He raised £4500 for the Alzheimer's Society and he chose he settled on Ewood Park as the location for his attempt as it is the home ground of his favourite football club, Blackburn Rovers.
IT’s not the only record he attempted and he previously achieved a Guinness World Record title in 2017 for 'Fastest journey from Land's End to John-O'-Groats on a lawnmower' (5 days, 8 hours and 36 minutes) to raise money for the same charity.
- The most expensive meat pie
Lancashire is renowned for its pies- but would you ever pay £8,195 for one?
The Fence Gate Inn in Burnley is behind the world record for ‘the most expensive pie’.
The pie cost a whopping £8,195 (then $14,260) or £1,024 (then $1,781) per slice to make.
It was ordered by eight guests on 14 November 2005.
The pie's ingredients includes £500 ($870) worth of Japanese wagyu beef fillet (from cattle who treated so well they are even massaged!), Chinese matsutake mushrooms (£500 per 1kg; $870 per 2 lb 3 oz) - so precious, they are harvested under guard, Winter Black truffles, French Bluefoot mushrooms at £200 per 1 kg ($348 per 2 lb 3 oz), gravy made from made two bottles of vintage 1982 Chateau Mouton Rothschild wine at £1,000 ($1,740) each and finally the pastry topped with edible gold leaf costing £100 ($174) per sheet.
- The largest sticky toffee pudding
Another food record was set in Clitheroe in April 2012 who made the largest sticky toffee pudding.
It weighed 334 kg (736 lb 5 oz) and was achieved by Farmhouse Fare Limited (UK), at Farmhouse Fare Limited bakery.
- Heaviest weight lifted by pierced ears
Blackburn man, Johnny strange has set multiple Guinness World Records throughout his life.
In 2016 he beat his own record of heaviest weight lifted by pierced ears at Norbreck Castle in Blackpool.
He managed to lift 21.63 kg (47 lb 10 oz).
- Largest egg and spoon race
This was achieved in March 2012 and involved an impressive 1445 people.
The largest egg and spoon race involved 1,445 participants and was achieved by Morecambe Community High School (UK) in Morecambe.
Cameron Ball was the winner of the race with a time of 28.59 seconds.
- Most wins of the gravy wrestling championship
The gravy wrestling championship takes place every year in the village of Stacksteads.
The very first competition was held in 2007 and the aim was to raise funds for the East Lancashire Hospice and competitors' nominated charities.
As the title suggests, combat involves two-minute tussles between amateur wrestlers in a 16,000-litre pool of Lancashire gravy, with the winner of each bout going through to the next round. All competitors must be in fancy dress, as per the official rules, and "serious aggressiveness, roughness or unsportsmanlike conduct" is disallowed.
However, if you want to try to smash the record yourself you will need to go through the five-time winner, Joel Hicks, first.
Joel, also known as ‘Gandalf the Gravy’, was given the Guinness World Record back in 2018.
- Most naked riders on a theme park ride
The next time you ride on the Grand National roller coaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, remember that it has been touched by 195 naked bodies.
The most naked riders on a theme park ride is 195, and was achieved by British Naturism (UK) in Blackpool, Lancashire, UK, on 2 March 2019.
David Ellis was one participant and he said: “I have ridden in all of the naked roller coaster world records...that's four in total - grand national was the most fun I think due to the racing element.”
- Most views for a quiz live stream
The most viewers of a quiz YouTube live stream is 182,513 people and was achieved by Jay Flynn (UK) on 30 April 2020.
The series of the Virtual Pub Quiz was started during the COVID-19 lockdown to entertain and engage the public. The goal was then set for them to attempt to gain the largest following for a quiz live stream on YouTube.
Jay Flynn from Darwen was als recently made MBE for his services to charity.
- Longest leg on a crab in captivity
This record didn’t go to a person… it went to a crab.
Big Daddy, a giant Japanese spider crab from Blackpool Sea Life Centre was given the record for ‘longest leg on a crab in captivity’ back in 2013.
The record was verified in Blackpool on 8 August 2013. Big Daddy died peacefully in early 2016, aged approximately 80 years old.
The crab was named after the professional wrestling star Big Daddy (UK, 1930–1997, b. Shirley Crabtree, Jr), who was a regular in the ring at the Blackpool Tower.
- Most swimming trunks pulled over clothing in 30 seconds
It sounds easy- but have you ever tried it?
Angelina Barlow managed to pull on 21 in 30 seconds back in 2017.
The record attempt took place during Blackpool Pleasure Beach's summer games.
Can I apply to set or break a record?
If you’re an individual, not a group and If you aren’t thinking about using your record-breaking attempt to promote a product or service, then the standard application is for you.
Here’s all you need to know about the application:
- A self-service option application and evidence submission
- Receive guidelines in 12 weeks (3 months)*
- Review of evidence within 12 weeks (3 months)**
- It will take 2 weeks to get a response to your questions
- Not suitable for promoting a business, service or an organisation
New record title suggestions involve a non-refundable administration fee of £5/$5 (+VAT).
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