Guinness World Records Day: Records that belong to Wrexham

First held in 2004 to mark GWR becoming the best-selling copyright book of all time, the date is now a much-anticipated annual celebration that has inspired some iconic record-breaking achievements.

And, did you know that several records are currently held by Wrexham residents or were achieved in Wrexham?

Here, the Leader has delved into the GWR records to bring you just some of them listed on the official website.

Getting creative

'The largest collection of papercrafts' consists of 504 items and was achieved by Richard Birse (UK), in Wrexham, UK, on September 25, 2017.

That's some speed for a 'house'!

Simon Robins, from Wrexham, holds the GWR for 'the fastest speed achieved by a motorhome' (227.35 km/h (141.3 mph).

That took place at Elvington Airfield in East Yorkshire, UK, on October 21 2014.

Simon's motorhome contains a double bed, sink, stove, and toilet.

Tat's going to take some beating!

Mark Owen Evans' tattoos. (Image: Guinness World Records)

This is a record that is unlikely to be broken any time soon.

The GWR for 'the most tattoos of the same name on the body' is 667, and was achieved by Mark Owen Evans in Wrexham on February 23, 2022.

Mark first set this record in 2017 by getting 267 ‘Lucy’ tattoos on his back in tribute to his daughter.

However, in 2020, 27-year-old Diedra Vigil (USA) broke the record by having her own name tattooed on herself 300 times.

Mark then reclaimed the title two years later by having more work done on his thighs.

It took five and a half hours for all 400 tattoos – 200 on each leg – to be completed.

Unstoppable Helen!

The 'most consecutive days to run a half marathon distance (female)' is 111, achieved by Helen Ryvar, from January 30 to May 20, 2021.

Following personal tragedies in 2020, the Llay resident decided to attempt this record as both a personal challenge and a tribute to family members. She also hoped to inspire others who had suffered with lack of self-belief.

Helen had started the year 2020 with a plan to run or walk 5 km every day and by the end of the year felt fit enough to take on the far longer distances required for this record. Eventually she was able to surpass the required target (75 days) by almost one month!

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Some strength!

'The most weight lifted by Atlas stone lifts in one minute (female)' is 720 kg (1587.33 lb), and was achieved by Jemma Stubbs in Wrexham, on February 24 2022

Jemma, who is from Llangollen, successfully completed 8 lifts with a 90 kg Atlas stone in one minute.

The record for 'the heaviest car deadlifted in one minute (female)' is also held by Jemma at 2,985.60 kg (6582.12 lb), on the same date.

A piece of history

Wrexham AFC's STok Cae Ras ground. (Image: Wrexham AFC) One that many people will know is that the STok Cae Ras holds the GWR for the 'oldest international football ground' that is still in use.

The first international match played at the Racecourse was on March 5, 1877 when Wales men's team hosted Scotland. The home side lost 0-2 on the day.

Wales women's national team beat Croatia 4-0 there in a Women's Euro 2025 qualifier on April 5 of this year 2024 and the most recent men's fixture hosted there was also a 4-0 win over Gibraltar in an international friendly on October 11 of last year.

Superhuman

The heaviest vehicle pulled (upper body) (female) is 8,260 kg achieved by Nicky Walters in Wrexham on February 24, 2022.

This record was achieved in 58 seconds and the vehicle pulled was a cement truck (DAF four wheel truck) that remained in neutral gear throughout.

Nicky also holds the GWR for 'the fastest time to pull a double decker bus 20 m (female)' achieved in 41.624 seconds on the same date. 

Meanwhile, 'the fastest time to pull a double decker bus 20 m (male)' was also achieved in Wrexham on that date.

That one was completed in 31.382 seconds achieved by Gareth Pugh.

The bus used in both cases was a vintage route master, weighing 7760 kg. The rope used for the pull weighed an additional 11.60 kg and the harness worn weighed 2.40 kg.

The fastest time to run 10 km while carrying a 40 lb pack is 41 min 24 sec and was achieved by Lee Riley.

He achieved that feat at the Helen Tipping 10k race held in Wrexham on December 2, 2012.

The GWR for 'the most weight lifted by Atlas stone lifts in one minute (male) is 1,150 kg, achieved by Jason Jones in Wrexham on February 24 2022.

Jason successfully completed 10 consecutive lifts with a 115 kg Atlas stone.

Daredevil

Jason Rennie, from Wrexham, holds the GWR for the 'longest motorcycle head-on ramp jump'.

Jason jumped his Yamaha YZ250 a distance of 37.12 meters (122 ft.) from a ramp moving towards him, at Rednall Airfield, near Oswestry, Shropshire, England on November 12, 2000.