Guinness World Records is celebrating 70 years.
Since 1955, the authority on achievements across sport, technology, collections and skills has sold 155-million books worldwide.
We’ve been taking a look back at some of the records broken in Gloucestershire.
Alan Myatt – World’s Loudest Crier
He has set two Guinness World Records: the loudest crier, recording a cry of 112.8 decibels, and the Guinness world record for vocal endurance, issuing a one-hundred word proclamation every 15 minutes for a period of 48 hours.
Pete Roberts – Tetbury Woolsack Races – Fastest Male
Pete Roberts achieved the fastest men’s individual time with 45.94 sec in the 2007 World Woolsack Championships.
The event is held annually in Tetbury involves competitors racing up and down the 1 in 4 Gumstool Hill while carrying a 60 lb (27.21 kg) bag of wool on their shoulders.
The official races have been run since 1972.
Nick and Tom Parsons – Largest baling rick
A rick of 40,400 bales of straw was built between 22 July – 3 September 1982 by Nick and Tom Parsons (UK) with a team of eight at Cuckoo Pen Barn Farm in Birdlip.
The completed rick measured 45.7 x 9.1 x 18.2 m (150 x 30 x 60 ft) high and weighed some 900 tonnes (1,984,158 lb). The team baled, hauled and ricked 24,200 bales in seven consecutive days from 22-29 July.
Chris Anderson – Most wins of a cheese-rolling race
The most wins of the Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake race, held annually in Gloucestershire, UK, is 23, by Chris Anderson (UK) between 2005 and 2022.
The tradition of chasing a double Gloucester cheese down the 180-m-long (590-ft) Cooper’s Hill can be traced back to at least the early 1800s, although historians believe that the ceremony stretches back for hundreds of years, and may even have its roots in a pagan fertility ritual predating the Roman era.
Adam Hamilton -Fastest 10 km carrying a 100 lb pack (male)
The fastest 10 km carrying a 100 lb pack (male) is 57 min 18 sec, and was achieved by Adam Hamilton in Gloucester on 19 May 2019.
Adam made this attempt to inspire people to push themselves to achieve great things. The attempt took place at the Gloucester City 10k.
Harvey Price – World’s Longest Train Drawing
Katie Price’s oldest son Harvey Price is officially a Guinness World Records title holder after completing the world’s longest train drawing in 2023.
Starting his mammoth challenge in Cheltenham on 19 June, Harvey successfully completed an impressive 21.3 m (approximately 65 ft 6 in) long and 1 m (3 ft 2 in) wide drawing of a Thameslink train – making it the longest drawing of a train EVER.
To put that into context, the colourful art piece measures the length of 10 standard-sized doors.
David Walsh -Heaviest wheelchair vehicle pull
The heaviest wheelchair vehicle pull is 9,360 kg (20,635 lb) and was achieved by David Walsh at Gloucester Docks on 28 May 2023.
David made this attempt “to prove to myself and others that even though you’re disabled you can still be strong.”
Jamie McDonald -Greatest distance covered on a treadmill in one week (male)
The greatest distance covered on a treadmill in one week (male) is 843.94 km (524.40 mi), achieved by Jamie McDonald at Gloucester Docks from 29 April to 6 May 2019.
Having previously achieved the record for longest marathon static cycling(268 hr 32 min 44 sec) in 2012, Jamie decided to attempt this record to help raise money for the Superhero Foundation charity which he founded a few years prior. As of 2022, Jamie has helped raise over £1,000,000 for sick children around the world.
He was born with a rare spinal condition called syringomyelia and spent much of his childhood in and out of hospital. He now tries to do all he can to give back as he knows without that support he would not be able to do any of these “daft” challenges, as he calls them.
Following the attempt, Jamie was awarded the Pride of Britain ‘Fundraiser of the Year’ award.
Thomas Whittaker – Longest duration juggling with three basketballs
The longest duration juggling with three basketballs is 2 hr 15 min 20 sec, achieved by Thomas Whitaker in Cheltenham on 8 August 2021.
Thomas (18) has previously achieved the record for most juggling catches in one minute (three basketballs) and hopes to re-claim that record next. He is also keen to increase his record tally and has a number of other juggling titles in his sights.
Daniel McClusky -Fastest single-segment completion of Halo 4
The fastest single-segment completion of Halo 4 is 1 hr 11 min 17 sec, achieved by Daniel McCluskey (UK), in Cheltenham, UK, on 5 June 2021.
Daniel chose to attempt this record as a way of passing time over the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Bang – Longest jump by a dog
A greyhound named Bang jumped 9.14 m (29 ft 11 in) while hare coursing at Brecon Lodge in 1849. He cleared a 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) gate and landed on a road, damaging his pastern bone.
Royal International Air Tattoo – Largest military air show
The annual Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford is the world’s largest military air show in terms of participating aircraft. An average of 350 static and flying aircraft attend each year, with a record total of 535 aircraft at the 2003 show.
Attendance is around 150,000 annually.
Kenny Fellowes – Highest darts score in 24 hours (male)
The highest darts score in 24 hours by a man is 567,145 by Kenny Fellowes (UK) at The Prince of Wales pub in Cashes Green on 28-29 September 1996.
Andy Collins and Craig Carter – Longest marathon playing skittles
The longest skittles marathon (alley) lasted 36 hours and was achieved by Andy Collins and Craig Carter of the Allsports Skittles Team at Charlton Club in Cheltenham on 29-30 April 2011. The players played a standard 3 balls per hand and 6 hands per leg.
They each completed 200 games with Andy totalling 7,449 pins and a 37.35 average while Craig notched 6,633 pins on a 33.17 average.