Shirburnian Record Breakers

record-breakersThe first edition of The Guinness Book of Records was published in 1955, compiled by twins Norris and Ross McWhirter.

Below are the names of Shirburnians who have broken World Records:

1920: World Record 4 x 880 yards relay (7:50.4)
H.B. Stallard (Lyon House 1914-1919) & W.R. Milligan (Abbey House 1912-1917) (relay team: H.B. Stallard, W.R. Milligan, Bevil Rudd, Wilfred Tatham).

1953: World Record 4 x 1 mile relay (16:41.0)
Christopher Chataway (Harper House 1944-1949) (relay team: Chris Chataway, Bill Nankeville, Don Seaman, Roger Bannister)

1954: World Record 5000 metres (13:51.6)
Christopher Chataway (Harper House 1944-1949).

1954: World Record 3 miles (13:32.2)
Christopher Chataway (Harper House 1944-1949).

1955: World Record 3 miles (13:23.2).
Christopher Chataway (Harper House 1944-1949).

1956: World Absolute Air Speed Record
Peter Twiss (Abbey House 1935-1940).  The first man to fly faster than 1,000 mph.

1972: World Record continuous Squash playing (49 hours)
Charles Hume (Westcott House 1967-1972) & Robert Bensted-Smith (Abbey House 1968-1972).

1974: World Record continuous Fives playing
Richard Knight (Harper House 1969-1974) & Michael Alexander (Abbeylands 1970-1974).

1980: World Record deep dive (2165ft)
Martin Garrard (School House 1967-1972).

?: World Record indoor hockey marathon
Robert Stonehewer-Smith (Lyon House 1975-1980).

1985: World Record continuous Fives playing
Julian MacDonnell (School House 1980-1985) & Nick Parfitt (The Green 1980-1985).

1990: World Record continuous Fives playing (40 hours, 10 mins)
Mark Dougal (Harper House 1986-1991), Jeremy Field (Abbey House 1988-1993), Anthony Lea (Harper House 1987-1990), Thomas Maidment (Harper House 1986-1991).

2014: Youngest Pair to Row the Atlantic
Jack Galsworthy (Wallace House 2008-2013) & Freddie Wright (The Digby 2008-2013) (as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, 5th).

2022: Youngest Person to Circumnavigate the World Solo in an Aircraft and also the Youngest Person to Circumnavigate the World Solo by Microlight.
Mack Rutherford (Abbey House 2018-).

So, which House has broken the most world records? To date, Abbey House and Harper House can both claim six world record breakers, School House five, Lyon House two, and The Green, Wallace, Abbeylands, The Digby, and Westcott one each.

If someone is missing from our list then we would love to hear from you.  Please contact the School Archivist

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