3 March 2020

A magnificent seven Guinness World Records were broken over the weekend as S4C celebrated St David's Day in a very special way.

People came together across the length and breadth of Wales to attempt to break a total of 11 records, under the scrutiny of Guinness World Records (GWR) Adjudicators.

The record-breaking feats were showcased on the GWR and S4C social media channels on St David's Day, attracting millions of views.

Tudur Phillips extinguished an impressive 55 candles in a minute at Swansea Waterfront Museum with his clogs.

From the 11 attempts, the World Records confirmed by Guinness World Records are:

Longest human archway relay – 164 pairs of people came together on Aberystwyth Promenade, to form the longest human archway ever, which is a feature of traditional Welsh folk dance, Dawnsio Gwerin.

Largest Welsh cake – the largest Welsh cake, weighing 28.8kg, was baked in Yr Egin, Carmarthen, by the Sir Gâr branch of Merched y Wawr, Great British Bake Off star Michelle Evans-Fecci, Tan-Y-Castell Bakery and Teifi Forge.

Fastest 50m pulling a narrowboat (female) - Nicky Walters managed to pull a narrowboat over a distance of 50 metres at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, the world's tallest navigable canal aqueduct, in a record-breaking time of 1 minute 35.53 seconds.

Most candles extinguished by heel clicks in one minute - Tudur Phillips extinguished an impressive 55 candles at Swansea Waterfront Museum, by performing the Clocsio dancing technique, the traditional form of Welsh clog dancing.

Largest Welsh folk dance – the record for the largest ever Twmpath, involving some 287 pupils and adults, was broken at Ysgol Gynradd Pennard on Gower, Swansea.

Most football 'hot stepper' ball control tricks in one minute and Most football (soccer) knee catches in 30 seconds – Cardiff's Ash Randall managed to break two football trick records in Portmeirion on Sunday. He broke the record for most 'hot stepper' ball controls in a minute by performing the feat 56 times. He then successfully broke the record for most 'knee catches', by allowing the ball to bounce on the floor before catching it between his knees, a total of 23 times in a minute.

There were a further four attempts to break Guinness World Records on St David's Day, which were unsuccessful. Members of Dolgellau Rugby Club were not able to set a new record for eating 500 grams of laver bread.

It was a similar story at the Gnoll, in Neath, as Neath Rugby Club members narrowly failed to set three new records; the most passes in a minute between two people, the most rugby conversions in a minute and the most rugby tackles in a minute.

Successful records will also feature in the Guinness World Records 2021 edition on sale in September. A programme produced by Cardiff-based Orchard and featuring each record- breaking attempt will be broadcast on S4C later in the year.

The largest Welsh cake, weighing 28.8kg, was baked in Yr Egin, Carmarthen, by the Sir Gâr branch of Merched y Wawr.

Rhodri ap Dyfrig, Online Content Commissioner at S4C said: "It's exciting for S4C to work alongside Guinness World Records in a series of record-breaking feats that are being broadcast digitally to the world on St David's Day.

"We've broken several records throughout the day in various areas across Wales, before bringing it all to a brilliant ending in Aberystwyth, by attempting to break the Guinness World Records for the Largest human archway relay.

"Working with Guinness World Records, we're showing the world our language, culture and country on our national day of celebration."