10 Northern Record Breakers

Do you ever dream of making the record books? Take some inspiration from the weird and wonderful ways people in the north have landed themselves in the Guinness World Records.

 1. Largest game of ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It’ 

The largest game of ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It’ consisted of 1,128 participants and was achieved at Lister Park, Manningham, Bradford, UK on 7 July 2011. The record was undertaken by children from schools from the Manningham and Toller Council Ward areas of Bradford and organised by West Yorkshire Police and the Positive Bradford Initiative.

2. Largest cake ball 

On 3 September 2017, Sheffield Wednesday baked the world’s largest cake ball to celebrate the football club’s 150th anniversary and their Owls in the Park 2017 event. The mouth-watering treat weighed in at a whopping 285 kilograms – 231 kg heavier than it needed to be to achieve the Guinness World Records title.

3. Most people gunged in three minutes

The most people slimed in three minutes is 100, achieved by Aaron Hobin, in Leyland, UK, on 7 August 2019. This record was broken in a children’s holiday club called Playscheme. Thursday is often the ‘messy’ day during the week, so ‘Big Show Entertainer’ Aaron gunged 100 volunteers, surpassing the previous record by 32.

4. Most people doing The Floss dance move simultaneously

The most people doing The Floss dance move simultaneously is 978, and was achieved by Montgomery Academy in Blackpool, Lancashire, UK, on 12 July 2019. The attempt was made to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the school by having staff and pupils work together to achieve something amazing.

5. Fastest Pennine Way Ultra-Run

Damian Hall ran the length of Great Britain oldest national trial in 61hr 35 min 15 sec (around two and a half days) on 22-24 July 2020. The Pennine Way runs at for 431km between the Scottish Borders and Derbyshire. Hall slept for no more than 40 min across his entire run. A committed environmentalist, he litter-picked as he went and consumed only plant-based products such as tea and hummus and avocado sandwiches.

6. Most consecutive books identified by their first sentence 

The most consecutive books identified by their first sentence is 129 and was achieved by Montgomery-Everard Lord (UK) in Bolton, UK, on 12 December 2019. Still in secondary school when he broke the record, the books he identified included Harry Potter and Peter Pan.

7. Most people down a water slide in one hour

The most people down a water slide in one hour is 529 and was achieved by Sandcastle Waterpark, in Blackpool, UK, on 26 June 2016.

8. Largest space hopper race 

The largest space hopper race was achieved by 771 participants at an event organised by Yorkshire Cancer Research, Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity and Cavendish Cancer Care at the Don Valley Grass Bowl in Sheffield, England, UK, on 25 July 2010.

9. Fastest time to wrap five portions of chips

The fastest time to wrap five portions of chips is 44.43 seconds and was achieved by chip shop worker Stephanie Celik in Rotherham, UK, on 1 June 2018.

10. Most bounces on a space hopper in one minute

The most bounces on a space hopper in one minute is 108 and was achieved by Mark Little at Butlins, Bognor Regis, UK, on 28 August 2011. This record was equalled by Shane Summer at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, in Blackpool, UK, on 26 July 2019.

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS 2022 (£20) is now available for purchase in stores and online, with discounts widely available.