Advice on record breaking attempt

[Recordbreaking25]

Evening all, hoping someone with experience might be able to help or advise.

I’m supporting a record-breaking attempt that will span several days. The challenge involves repeating a specific task continuously throughout the period, sticking to the same theme.

I’m trying to get my head around what’s required in terms of witnesses and timekeepers, and I’m getting a bit confused. I’d be really grateful if anyone could help answer the following:

1. Witnesses – I understand they need to be independent, but do they need to have a professional background (e.g. doctor, lawyer), or can they be anyone? We have volunteers who are retired or had non-professional careers, and I’m unsure if they’re eligible.

1. What do witnesses need to do?

Record every minute of the attempt? Log the start and finish times of each activity, including breaks? Or simply sign to confirm they witnessed the attempt and note the time period they were present?

1. Can the same witnesses return after a break? For example, if someone does a 4-hour stint, can they come back later in the day?

1. Can timekeeper act as witness our do they need to be independent of each other?

1. Do we need an official timekeeper (someone with a professional background like a referee) to be present for the entire attempt, or just at the start and end?

Any other tips or advice would be hugely appreciated – especially around the types of people you’ve used (or plan to use) for these roles.

Thanks in advance!

I wouldn't take advice from strangers on the internet - who knows what we might make up ?

I'd get in touch with Guinness World Records and get it from the horses mouth as it were.

Thanks, we have tried but they are not very helpful and take weeks to come back.

I was hoping to find people with lived experience that could advise

The problem is that even if someone who did a similar attempt comes on and advises you; ultimately with official attempts the devil is in the details so you WILL need to get and follow the exact rules from GWR. They may vary ever so slightly for your attempt so don’t risk it!

Have you applied to Guinness? It reads like you’re supposed to apply and then they tell you the guidelines before you attempt the record break. You can pay for an accelerated application and hear back in 5 days so it’s not a long wait. It sounds like you need to do this if you want the attempt recognised by Guinness.

You need to contact Guinness first or the attempt won’t count. They’ll tell you exactly what you need to comply with.

We are already registered with guiness and have their extensive rule book, some of it is not very clear hence why I am looking for anyone who has followed the official channels