On May 4, 1951, Sir Hugh Beaver, then the managing director of the Guinness Brewery, went on a shooting party in North Slob in County Wexford, Ireland. He became involved in an argument over which was the fastest game bird in Europe, then later realized it was impossible to confirm in reference books. He then thought that a book supplying answers to such questions could be popular.
The first 197-page edition of the “Guinness Book of Records” was bound on Aug. 27, 1955, and went on to the top of the British best-seller list by Christmas. Over 400 million copies have sold since the first edition. The most recent one to hit the shelves is the “Guinness World Records 2010.” Here is list of 50 interesting Guinness records that will surely amaze you.
1. Fastest 100-meter hurdles wearing swim fins, individual, female
The fastest 100-meter hurdles wearing swim fins by a female is 22.35 seconds. It was achieved by Maren Zönker of Germany in Cologne, Germany, on Sept. 13, 2008.
2. Most people dressed as Smurfs
The most people dressed as Smurfs was 1,253 and was achieved by the Muckno Mania Festival in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, Ireland, on July 18, 2008.
3. Largest rubber band ball
Joel Waul, pictured, of the United States pushes his bouncing creation.The largest rubber band ball, which weighs 4,097 kilograms (9,032 pounds), was measured in Lauderhill, Fla., Nov. 13, 2008.
4. Largest pocket knife
The world’s largest pocket knife measures 3.9 meters (12 feet, 8 inches) when open, and weighs a total of 122 kilograms (268.9 pounds). It was designed by Telmo Cadavez of Bragança, Portugal, and handmade by Virgilìo, Raúl and Manuel Pires of Portugal, Jan. 9, 2003.
5. Heaviest lemon
The world’s heaviest lemon weighed in at 5.265 kilograms (11 pounds, 9.7 ounces) on Jan. 8, 2003, and was grown by Aharon Shemoel on his farm in Kfar Zeitim, Israel.
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