Brisk November weather was no deterrent to the friends of Pants to Poverty this morning, when 116 bold and nearly-bare people gave passing commuters an eyeful by posing for the Largest Gathering of People Wearing Underpants. Kick-starting today's internationally-acclaimed Guinness World Records Day, the parade of pants at St Pancras was just the first of many record breaking attempts around the world. Pants to Poverty, a not-for-profit organisation selling free-trade underwear, galvanised their huge support through an email and online social networking campaign, seizing the opportunity on Guinness World Records Day to promote their organisation in the name of ethical underwear! Guinness World Records Day, the annual 24 hour celebration of record breaking around the world, was established in 2005 to commemorate the sale of Guinness World Records' hundred- millionth copy. 2008's celebrations commenced as the sun rose over New Zealand, with multiple record-holder Alistair Galpin adding to his collection with a new record for the Fastest Time to Peel and Eat 3 Kiwifruit (36.91 seconds). Galpin then continued in a frenzy of record-breaking attempts, breaking his record for Loudest Clap (113dBA), Most Baseballs Held in a Baseball Glove (14, beating his previous 10), and Furthest Coin Flicking (10.64 metres/34.90 ft)
In Australia, 250,000 people lined the streets of Adelaide to try for the Largest Mexican Wave, but sadly, the wave stalled before it got to the end, leaving the current record of 157,574 intact. In Germany, Martina Servaty broke the record for the Most Juice Extracted from Grapes by Treading in 1 Minute with an astounding 5.4 litres, while Anita Schwarz established a new record for Most Beer Steins Carried Over 40 Metres - Female with an amazing 19 full steins in hand..
The US joined the Guinness World Records Day party with an attempt for the Largest Dog Wedding - gorgeous gowns and smart tuxedos, but sadly the 87 canine couples who lined up to bark their vows was not enough to break the current record of 178. Asha Mandela, also in the US, unveiled for the first time her remarkable eight-foot dreadlocks, which she's been growing for twenty years, to secure herself the Longest Dreadlocks record, while Joel Waul US, broke the record for the Largest Rubber Band Ball with a ball weighing 4,097kg (9032 lbs), and 6' 7'' tall with a diameter of 25 ft.
Still to come in the UK are record attempts for the Longest Line of Pizzas, the Most People Arm Wrestling, the Largest Cup of Tea and Largest Tea Bag, the Fastest Time to Run 100 Miles on a Treadmill, while Ireland sees the Most People Running in High-Heeled Shoes, and the Largest Image Made of LED Lights.
More than 50 different record attempts are being made across 15 countries for Guinness World Records Day, all of which are short-listed for inclusion in next year's edition of the book. The 2008 edition is currently enjoying the No.1 position in the UK bestseller lists.
