Alastair Galpin

Alastair Galpin (born 1974, East London, South Africa) is the 2nd biggest Guinness World Records breaker of the 2000s decade,[1] breaking 38 World Records, behind Ashrita Furman. He immigrated to New Zealand in 2002, and says that his career in Record Breaking was inspired when he met champion rally driver, Simon Evans, in Kenya in 1998.

Alastair Galpin
November 2009
Born(1974-04-00)April 1974
East London, South Africa
EducationNational Diploma in Forestry (Port Elizabeth Technikon, South Africa)
BSc in Human Geography (University of Auckland, New Zealand)
OccupationBreaking World Records, Environmental supporter
Notable credit(s)
Second Biggest World Record Breaker of the Decade 2000-2009 (Guinness World Records)
RelativesErnest Edward Galpin
FamilyNorman Galpin, father
Websitehttp://www.worldrecordchase.com

World records

Alastair Galpin has broken over 85 world records for feats including having the most snails on the face (eight in 10 seconds[2]) and the most rubber-bands stretched over the face (62 in one minute). He also holds the most stamps licked (57 in one minute),[3] loudest clap, and the fastest time to peel and eat three kiwifruit.[4][5]

Galpin is also the holder of the Guinness World Record for the most hugs in one hour in Civic Square, Wellington, New Zealand on 13 July 2007 (624 hugs)[6] and achieved three new Guinness World Records at the Guinness World Records Day 2009 for Champagne-cork spitting, coin blowing, and Malteser (malt ball) spitting.[7]

Along with New Zealander Don Purdon, Galpin commenced an attempt at the longest hand-shake at 8pm EST on Friday 14 January 2011 in New York Times Square. After 33 hours, three minutes, they had smashed the existing record by more than 17 hours[8][9][10] and shared the record with Nepalese brothers Rohit and Santosh Timilsina.[11]

Event Record Location and Date
The loudest clap113 dBAUniversity of Auckland, New Zealand, November 2, 2008[12]
The fastest time to butter 10 slices of bread52.42 secondsPt Chevalier, Auckland, New Zealand, on 3 December 2009[13]
Longest full-body massage25 hours 4 minutesSouth Kalimantan, Indonesia, November 2015
The furthest champagne cork spit7.23 mFremantle, Perth, Australia, November 2013
Tallest silverbeet plant363.5 cmAuckland, New Zealand in 2008

[14]

The most high fives in one minute76Trusts Stadium, Waitakere, Auckland, New Zealand, on 14 November 2009[15]
The most lit candles in the mouth8Lo Show dei Record, Milan, Italy, on 15 March 2011[16]
Largest bottle cap sculpture (shared)19,205 capsAuckland, New Zealand in 2010

[17]

The most gloves put on one hand in one minute13Britomart Transport Centre, Auckland, New Zealand, on 12 November 2009[18]
The most baseballs held in the hand (palm down)4Old Homestead, Auckland, New Zealand, on 28 April 2007[19]
The most side jumps (alternating each leg) achieved in a minute90The Warehouse shop in Sylvia Park, Auckland, New Zealand, on 27 October 2007.[20]
Furthest surface journey in a male chastity device4,894.6 kmBorneo, Indonesia, in November 2014
Most M&M pretzels moved with a straw in 1 minute62Auckland, New Zealand, on 24 September 2012
Largest cartoon (shared)862.8 square metresAuckland, New Zealand in November 2006

[21]

The farthest coin flick12.11 m (39 ft 8 in)Britomart Transport Centre, Auckland, New Zealand, on 12 November 2009[22]

Charitable awareness raising

Galpin seeks to raise awareness - and sometimes raise funds - for social and environmental causes.[23] He uses various methods to spread knowledge of environmental issues, including referring to issues of global concern in his website's stories,[24] and during his motivational storytelling in schools.[25]

His opinion piece, titled 'Human Application of Consciousness' - while not directly related to world record-breaking, explains Galpin's drive to contribute to the struggle for a truly sustainable future for mankind and other life on earth. He does so by collaborating with non-profits and organisations on projects of varying degrees of social and environmental importance.[26]

Among his more noteworthy charitable efforts are the greatest height to drop gambling machines as a statement against gambling harm,[27] the largest bowl of soup (shared) to show healthy eating in disadvantaged communities,[28] and the most radio interviews in a suspended cage to bring media attention to the issue of problem gambling.[29]

Unusual feats

His activities were played down by some US websites covering "most ridiculous" and "least impressive" world records[3] and he has also attracted US television coverage for similar reasons.[30] Among other print media, The Citizen has featured his work.[31]

References
  1. Guinness Book of World Records (2010), p. 7
  2. "Snails ooze into record book". Fairfax New Zealand. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  3. Bridgeman, Shelley (2008-11-08). "A life less ordinary". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  4. Altman, Alex (2008-11-14). "A Brief History Of Guinness World Records". Time. Archived from the original on 19 September 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  5. "Record breaker hugs the limelight". Television New Zealand. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  6. Smith, Kelly (2007-07-13). "No Need For Drugs When You Have 624 Hugs". Scoop. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  7. "Guinness World Records Day 2009". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 17 June 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  8. "Longest Handshake: Team New Zealand and Team Nepal set world record". Worldrecordsacademy.org. 2011-01-18. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  9. "Kiwis break world record for a handshake". Television New Zealand. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  10. "World record handshake holders". Television New Zealand. 19 January 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  11. http://www.allheadlinenews.com/briefs/articles/90031342?%20Nepali%20brothers%20share%20world%20record%20for%20longest%20handshake
  12. http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/Search/Details/Loudest-clap/112835.htm
  13. http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/Search/Details/Fastest-time-to-butter-10-slices-of-bread/121738.htm
  14. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  15. http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/Search/Details/Most-high-fives-in-one-minute/122144.htm
  16. http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/Search/Details/Most-lit-candles-in-the-mouth/122148.htm
  17. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  18. http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/Search/Details/Most-gloves-put-on-one-hand-in-one-minute/122151.htm
  19. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2011-01-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/Search/Details/Most-side-jumps-in-one-minute/108202.htm
  21. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  22. http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/Search/Details/Farthest-coin-flicking-distance/122147.htm
  23. "Alastair - Guinness World Records Member - Home of the Longest, Shortest, Fastest, Tallest facts and feats". Community.guinnessworldrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-05. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  24. "Achieving the Guinness World Record™ for the Most AA batteries held in the hand: 44 | Alastair Galpin". Worldrecordchase.com. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  25. "Storytelling - world record breaker Alastair Galpin". Worldrecordchase.com. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  26. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  27. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  28. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  29. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  30. "Kiss, Cook, and Dance for World Record's Day". ABC News. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  31. "The Citizen Online | For the record - Lifestyle". Citizen.co.za. Archived from the original on 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
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