Guinness World Record turns 70, reveals unclaimed titles

Guinness World Records is celebrating its 70th anniversary by unveiling unclaimed records, commemorating the first edition's publication on August 27, 1955. 

Craig Glendav, GWR editor-in-chief, said: “As we mark the 70th anniversary of the release of our first edition back in the 1950s, we’re proud to be building on 70 amazing years as the global curator of superlative facts and achievements.”

How did Guinness World Records story begin?

A question that triggered a debate at a 1950s shooting party in County Wexford, Ireland, attended by the then managing director of Guinness brewery Sir Hugh Beaver.

When they failed to find an answer in reference books, the idea for a record book was born.

Sir Hugh thought it’d be a great way to settle pub arguments and recruited researchers from Fleet Street to compile a book of facts and figures.

Decades worth of editions and 155 million copies later, we have learned of records for everything from the most extensive collection of Spice Girl's memorabilia to the longest female tongue (Chanel Tapper, US, 9.75 cm).

Here are some of the new records, waiting for a champion to claim them:

• Most whoopee cushions sat on for one minute
• Furthest distance bottle flip
• Most high-fives in 30 seconds
• Fastest 400-metre sack race
• Fastest time to build a five-storey playing-card pyramid
• Most kisses in 30 seconds by a pair
• Most leapfrog jumps in one hour by a team of two
• Most seat drops on a trampoline in one hour
• Most anchovies eaten in a minute
• Most stackable potato-based crisps eaten in one minute
• Most table tennis balls held in one hand
• Most T-shirts put on in 30 seconds (individual)
• Fastest time to ascend the height of Everest by bicycle

It's exciting to think about, especially since Guinness World Records is celebrating its 70th anniversary.