World records accredited to Alastair Galpin (the second most successful world record breaker) (original) (raw)
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Over the years, some of the world records I have achieved represent great personal achievements for me, placing mind over matter and displaying skills that I did not know I possessed in connection with the weird and wonderful. Some records necessitate learning new skills and facing new challenges, whereas others are just painful lessons that I would not like to attempt to repeat.
I have set out below the records of my achievements, and you are invited to join me through my quest by reading the stories behind the world records, as well as those banana skins along the way which just highlight the challenges I face.
Guinness World Records™ 2013
Most toothpicks rotated in the mouth simultaneously: 43
Why would anyone stick needles in their mouth and then rotate them?
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Most gloves worn on one hand: 65
The pain was extreme, but I couldn’t resist.
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Furthest champagne cork spit: 7.23 metres
I think I swallowed a lot of ugly stuff, but it was still cool!
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Most CDs balanced on one finger: 40
They wobbled and wobbled, but I finally got it.
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Fastest time to halve 10 matches with an axe: 2.86 seconds
Precision and safety required!
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Fastest time to eat a muffin (no hands): 33 seconds
Pig-like eating but so delicious!
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Guinness World Records™ 2012
Longest potato peel: 1.582 metres
A strip nearly as long as I am tall.
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Longest chain of belts: 311
We did it – and sent the belts off to Fiji.
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Most gloves worn on one hand: 60
A pleasure to do this in a shady garden.
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Most swim caps worn at once: 20
A potential skull-crushing risk.
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Furthest coin flick: 14 metres 6cm
This finger of mine actually impresses me.
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Fastest time to sort 30 jellybeans by straw: 16.88 seconds
My eyes could hardly keep up with my hand!
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Most toothpicks rotated in the mouth simultaneously: 39
It was like having a hedgehog scouring out my mouth.
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Fastest time to shell one boiled egg: 5.09 seconds
A vast improvement on my previous world record for this event.
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Most M&M pretzel candies moved with a straw in 1 minute: 62
Going dizzy is part of the fun!
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Most dominoes toppled in 30 seconds: 30
One wrong hand movement and they’re all flat on the table.
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Most dried peas moved in one minute using a straw: 48
They’re so light it’s like moving green bubbles of dried air!
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Most sugar cubes balanced on the chin (single stack): 11
Sweet when they break; hard to balance otherwise.
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Most bottle caps moved with the mouth in 30 seconds: 42
When I find new ways, I get better scores.
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Most gloves worn on one hand: 44
I bet those relaxing in the club that night weren’t expecting this.
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Longest line of M&M pretzels in 30 seconds: 30
Another world record-setting feat requiring no more than sweet yummy chocolate balls.
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Most hair clips on the head in 30 seconds: 33
It hurt, but I’d tolerate pain for another world record.
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Most M&M pretzel candies moved with a straw in 1 minute: 60
If you don’t mind being dizzy, this is a wonderful way to spend your evening.
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Guinness World Records™ 2011
Most AA batteries held in the hand: 44
An energy zapping experience, but I had to go on, and on, and on...
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Tallest alternating coffee cup tower in one minute: 170cm
Surprisingly, it’s not the height which affects the tower’s balance.
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Most bottle caps moved with the mouth in 30 seconds: 30
If you want to feel dizzy, try this!
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Most dice stacked into a tower in one minute using the mouth: 15
I smacked my teeth during practise – and blood drained into my mouth.
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Longest duration Malteser blowing: 4.50 seconds
A fun way to set a record for the lighter way to enjoy chocolate (so long as you don't mind a little dirt!).
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Most gloves put on one hand in one minute: 13
This was the first of the new world records which I set during a trip to Milan, Italy where I appeared on an Italian world records TV show.
Read about all of the various personalities I met there.
For Lo Show dei Record
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Most candles lit in the mouth: 8
This was the next of the world records to be beaten by me whilst on the Italian world records TV show. More personalities were being introduced to me by the day, and my head was spinning with remembering all of their names and feats - but I had to concentrate on fitting candles into my mouth!
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Fastest time to shell one boiled egg: 14.79 seconds
This was the last of the world records which I broke during the trip to Italy - televised to the waiting public. Even more extraordinary personalities made this one truly memorable trip.
For Lo Show dei Record
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Longest continuous handshake (shared): 33 hours 3 minutes
I was invited to participate in this international event held in Times Square, New York, starting at 8pm EST on Friday 14th January 2011. There were three teams: one team from the USA, myself and Don Purdon representing New Zealand, and a team from Nepal.
The event drew plenty of media attention and there was live video streaming across the internet. Large crowds cheered us on as we set off into the first night, shaking hands enthusiastically, and then settling down into a routine.
The teams had been practising hard. The first night proved eventful when paramedics had to respond to one hand shaker losing consciousness. By the time the existing confirmed Guinness World Record™ of 15 hours 30 minutes and 45 seconds had been broken, there were just us (the New Zealand team), who were "Shaking it up for Downs" and the team from Nepal.
Just before 33 hours, the four of us agreed that neither team was going to give up, and a deal had to be struck. The consensus was to finish the record attempt at the same time and share the world record title, subject to its ratification.
For Auckland Down Syndrome Association
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Guinness World Records™ 2010
Largest bottle cap sculpture (shared): 19,205 caps
A momentous achievement, with many days and helpers needed to pull it all together - a marvel of engineering reproduced with the consent of Gilbert Rugby, who have been chosen to produce the match balls for the Rugby World Cup 2011 here in New Zealand.
Guinness World Records Day 2010
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Guinness World Records™ 2009
Furthest distance to blow a Malteser with a straw: 11 metres 29.5cm
Yes, this went further than I expected it to. But that's good. Very good - it is after all, supposed to be the lighter way to enjoy chocolate!
Guinness World Records Day 2009
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Most gloves put on one hand in one minute: 10
One second they slip, the next, they stick. How would you know?
Guinness World Records Day 2009
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Most envelopes torn in half in 30 seconds: 26
That was repetitive, but a good way to dissolve my stress at the time.
Guinness World Records Day 2009
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Furthest pea blow: 3 metres 38.5cm
The trick was not in the blowing, but rather the moisture on the skin of each pea.
Guinness World Records Day 2009
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Furthest coin flick: 12 metres 11cm
I was astounded at how this little coin sailed through the air, seemingly effortlessly.
Guinness World Records Day 2009
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Furthest coin blow: 37.6cm
Mate! Did I go blue in the face getting that coin to move.
Guinness World Records Day 2009
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Most High Fives in one minute: 76
From toddlers to the aged, I slapped the hand of everyone there in a blur of speed.
For Impossibility Challenger NZ
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Most candles lit in the mouth: 5
Never thought I'd ever eat candle wax. But I have.
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Fastest time to break 10 plastic coat hangers: 6.30 seconds
It felt as if they shattered the instant I touched them. That's the way I like it.
For Impossibility Challenger NZ
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Furthest champagne cork spit: 5 metres
If it hadn't tasted so delicious, perhaps I'd have spat it further.
For Impossibility Challenger NZ
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Furthest table tennis ball spit: 6.36 metres
You try spitting a ball that weighs about as much as a feather into the wind!
For Impossibility Challenger NZ
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Furthest light bulb throw: 28.66 metres
I discovered that in a steady side-wind, even heavy light bulbs are affected.
For Impossibility Challenger NZ
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Fastest time to halve 10 matches with an axe: 4.31 seconds
It's great fun smashing things with an axe. I love it.
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Fastest time to shell one boiled egg: 18.95 seconds
It's a tricky one, this. There were bits of shell sticking everywhere.
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Fastest time to butter 10 slices of bread: 52.42 seconds
I'm satisfied. So is the local shopkeeper where I bought way too much practice bread!
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Most chopsticks snapped in 30 seconds: 33
Do you know that a lot of wood chopped from the Amazon rainforest is converted into chopsticks? Please, if you try this, get hold of used chopsticks so you are not supporting possible forest destruction.
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Most chopsticks snapped in a minute: 68
Do you know that a lot of wood chopped from the Amazon rainforest is converted into chopsticks? Please, if you try this, get hold of used chopsticks so you are not supporting possible forest destruction.
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Record Holders' Republic 2009
Most side jumps in 30 seconds: 51
Just a tad tough on the old heart, you know...
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Furthest standing jump sideways: 2 metres 6.5cm
A bit of a balancing act, because I had to land correctly without adjusting my stance.
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Most eggs shelled in one minute: 4
A tricky attempt with slimy eggs, all while I'm under pressure from the timekeepers.
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Longest passport page: 73.3 cm
I've wanted this for many years, and good things seem to come to those who persist.
For Impossibility Challenger NZ
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Most radio interviews in suspended cage: 98
Thrilling. I recommend dangling off the end of a crane for Easter – way to go!
For The Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand
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Book of Alternative Records 2009
Most table tennis balls held underwater: 12
The tricky part was flipping my hand very fast while keeping all balls in place.
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Guinness World Records™ 2008
Loudest clap: 113 dbA
Now this proves why my friends complain that my clap hurts their ears.
Guinness World Records Day 2008
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Largest bowl of soup (shared): 25,000 litres
What an incredible mix of creativity, stress, apprehension, satisfaction and sheer exhilaration to the end!
For St Elizabeth's Friends of the Family
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Most radio interviews in 24 hours (shared): 57
A virtual round-the-world trip, thanks to brilliant radio presenters all over the planet.
For The Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand
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Furthest coin flick: 10.64 metres
I can't remember exercising my index finger so much ever before!
For Guinness World Records Day 2008
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Longest hair extension (shared): 6.69 metres
What a thrill – to walk in public and notice the gazes brought me many a chuckle.
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Fastest time to peel and eat three kiwifruit: 36.91 seconds
Who said I could never eat like an animal – of course I can!
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Most baseballs held in a baseball glove: 14
A bit of a balancing act, and if only the baseball glove was more stretchy!
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Furthest golf ball blow: 5.83 metres
Blowing this hard is a good way to give yourself a splitting headache in minutes. Oooh!
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Most gloves worn on one hand: 24
I usually believe I can do things, but this time even I was amazed.
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Book of Alternative Records 2008
Tallest silverbeet plant: 363.5cm
As a seedling, it keep reaching ever-higher and showed its promise from an early age.
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Guinness World Records™ 2007
Most T-shirts torn in one minute: 9
Yes! A great way to vent stress with instant results.
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Most jelly eaten with chopsticks in one minute: 410 grams
Funnily, it slumped down my throat like a soft drink. But I felt bloated straight away.
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Most side jumps in one minute: 90
Very physically demanding but exercise is good for us, even jumping at this speed.
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Most baseballs in hand palm-down: 4
A logical result to me – unless you can hold more. Can you?
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Most vinyl records smashed in 30 seconds: 20
Now that's what I call satisfying!
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Most rubber bands pulled over head in one minute: 62
We laughed. What sane person would want to spend weeks practicing for this weird and wonderful world record!
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Most stamps licked in one minute: 57
Quite literally, there was saliva all over the place...and many glued-on stamps for the public to inspect.
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Most underpants pulled on in one minute: 20
Never before did I think I'd develop such an intense liking for little red underwear...
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Most hugs in one hour: 624
All welcome! It was a pleasure to hug so many wonderful folks.
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Most cucumbers snapped in one minute: 75
Bits splattered everywhere, and we had a great time with those things.
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Most books priced in one minute: 28
“I'll show them” I thought when I began, but really? I was nervous as can be.
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Most eggs crushed with the head in 30 seconds: 20
Even if I admit it myself, possibly the most unintellectual activity I've engaged in.
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Most baseballs held in a baseball glove: 10
Somehow, I knew those baseballs and I'd be seeing one another a second time.
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Most snails on the face: 8
You know, folks, it wasn't that bad, despite this being one of the weirdest world records. They're cute and we fell in love, all 9 of us.
For Guinness World Records Day 2007
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Record Holders' Republic 2007
Greatest height to drop gambling machines: 296 metres
One of the best “highs” one could ever experience. Uplifting and awesome.
For The Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand
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Most gambling machines dropped: 4
A rewarding accomplishment, and a statement that says it all.
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Guinness World Records™ 2006
Most pegs held in the hand: 23
Just when the TV news reporter turned his back, I got it and shrieked with excitement.
For Southern Stars Charitable Trust
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Most socks worn: 74
Now that's a decent way to keep warm – while making sure you can't go anywhere.
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Furthest golf ball blow: 1.96 metres
Face to face with a golf ball that doesn't want to roll at all, it seemed.
For Southern Stars Charitable Trust
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Most gloves worn on one hand: 7
Surely 7 isn't where the record's at? No, I can do more.
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Most T-shirts worn: 120
And that's when they thought I should go walking through the local shopping centre...
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Most garlic cloves eaten in one minute: 4
When you're eating at this speed you don't taste a lot – you're in too much of a hurry to get the lumps down your throat!
For Southern Stars Charitable Trust
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Largest cartoon (shared): 862.8 square metres
A wonderfully rewarding day as we measured and painted for hours inside a huge helicopter hangar.
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Longest handshake (shared): 9 hours 19 minutes
Thank goodness for interesting company. But we weren't too happy that the rules meant we were followed into the toilet by witnesses where we weren't permitted to stop!
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Most rhinestones on the body (shared): 31,680
Nothing can beat being coated in a reptile-like skin of glue and exquisitely patterned rhinestones.
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Guinness World Records™ 2005
Loudest clap: 110.44 dbA
A good world record to have, but I was confident I could beat myself.
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Most eggs held in the hand: 10
Can you imagine spending weeks practicing for this, breaking eggs all over the house?
For Guinness World Records Day 2005
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Furthest coin flick: 9.03 metres
Got it, but I wanted to improve on my own benchmark.
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Most finger snaps in one minute: 119
If you've ever written so much that your forearm stings, then you know how this felt.
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Most socks worn: 70
Succeeding at this showed me I could stretch myself just a little more and do better.
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Guinness World Records™ 2004
Greatest weight lifted with human tongue: 1.7kg
We were entertained by this one, but only until a doctor told me I could rip my tongue out of my throat by its attachments - after all, this could easily be one of the most painful records.
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