Guinness World Records broken in Newport

But, while many of the things that brought Newport to the party in the first place are confined to the history books, recent years have seen Newport finding its way into a different kind of book – the Guinness World Records book.

Over the more recent years, residents of the city have tried to put themselves, and their city in the record books, by completing a variety of weird, wonderful, or simply impressive challenges.

Of course, breaking a world record requires skill and perseverance – or in rare circumstances, luck.

As such, many try their best, but fall short.

While this is understandably disappointing for those involved, it makes the successes of those who do triumph all the more impressive.

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Here in Newport, success has been found in the past – with a fair few records having been broken with a strong Newport connection.

There is a real variety in the achievements too – from sporting feats, to vegetable growing, and strangely specific dancing.

Below, you can find 10 world records with a Newport connection.

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10 Newport world records

Longest Transporter Bridge – Newport Transporter Bridge

The transporter bridge is a feat of engineering, but a fairly rare one.

Globally, only a few dozen were ever built, and it is estimated that fewer than 10 remain in use.

Spanning the River Usk, the bridge is 181 m (594 ft) in length, and stands 75 m (246 ft) high.

Having been built in 1906, this is technically the longest reigning record holder on this list.

And, as long as it remains standing, this is a record unlikely to be beaten.

First twins to manage opposing soccer teams in a professional match – Dean and David Holdsworth

The worst thing about this one is the name of the record – football, not soccer.

That aside, on September 18, 2010, brothers Holdsworth took to the dugout on opposing sides as Newport County played Mansfield Town.

If fans felt that they’d maybe had one ale too many and were seeing double they would be forgiven – as the managers are twins.

Ultimately, Dean, and Newport, would have the last laugh, with county triumphing 1-0 on the night.

Longest football goal scored in a competitive match – Tom King

Sticking with the beautiful game, this one is just plain bizarre.

Playing for Newport County at Cheltenham Town, County goalkeeper Tom King booted the ball downfield, and with a cheeky assist from the windy weather, the ball bounced its way into the back of the net.

Tom King celebrating his record breaking goal with his opposite number (Credit: Huw Evans picture agency)

Goalkeepers scoring is a novelty in itself, but it later transpired that at a distance of 96.01 m (105 yds), it is the longest goal ever scored competitively.

It has to be said though – spare a thought for the opposition keeper.

Most rugby ball touches with the feet by a mascot in one minute – Rodney the Dragon

Moving away from football and onto rugby, and this one is, pretty specific.

A group of mascots from Wales attempted to break a number of world records, including the fastest 100 m by a mascot, and most consecutive football touches by a mascot, before moving on to the most rugby ball touches with the feet by a mascot in one minute.

Unfortunately, Cochyn (Scarlets), Ozzie (Ospreys), Bartley Bluebird (Cardiff City F.C.) and Cyril the Swan (Swansea F.C.) all fell short, before the Dragons’s Rodney the Dragon stepped up to the plate.

Achieving 24 touches, Rodney took home the world record title.

Most consecutive rugby passes

On August 7, 2010, an event was held at Rodney Parade by Hybu Pobl Ifanc and the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Here, the world record for the most consecutive rugby passes was broken, with an impressive total of 279.

Newport's Rodney Parade has been home to a number of record breaking exploits

All passes were backward and legal as per the rules of rugby, and each pass travelled at least five metres.

The event was monitored by a licenced rugby referee.

Longest golf drive on the PGA European Tour – Nicolas Colsaerts

This is a bit of a tricky one to achieve at home, unless you happen to be on the PGA European tour, which seems a little unlikely, it has to be said.

In any case, the longest drive ever recorded was achieved by Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, while playing on the Twenty-Ten course at the Celtic Manor in Newport.

On September 18, 2014, he struck the ball an impressive 447 yards, or 408.74 metres.

Most consecutive century breaks in snooker – John Higgins, Shaun Murphy, Neil Robertson, Gary Wilson, Stephen Maguire (joint)

The final sporting achievement on the list is shared by five professional snooker players.

All five have managed to achieve consecutive snooker breaks of 100 or more four times.

The second of these was attained by the United Kingdom’s Shaun Murphy in the Newport Centre on February 14, 2007.

Picking up a world record doesn’t sound like the worst way to spend a Valentine’s Day in Newport, in all fairness.

Heaviest eggplant/aubergine – Ian Neale

Should the farmer get the record for this one, or the plant itself? One of life’s greatest questions right there.

Best known as Snoop Dogg’s best pal, Newport farmer Ian Neale’s aubergine weighed 3.06 kg (6 lb 11 oz).

This feat was ratified at the Canna UK National Giant Vegetables Championships, staged at the Malvern Autumn Show in the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, UK, on September 29, 2018.

Ian Neale, with some of his giant veg proudly on display

Previously, he has also held the record for heaviest beetroot and longest cucumber, too.

If befriending a rap megastar wasn’t enough, Mr Neale’s prominence has continued to rise, particularly in the arena that is giant vegetable growing.

Heaviest bell pepper – Ian Neale

It’s that man again.

On September 27, 2020, Mr Neale grew the heaviest bell pepper, which weighed an incredible 738 g (1 lb 10 oz).

In an ultimate show of impressive vegetable growing prowess, he actually broke his own record – using seeds grown from the previous record breaking bell pepper, which weighed 720g.

If that trend continues, 2022 is shaping up to be a big year in bell pepper growing circles.

Largest Big Fish, Little Fish dance – Sanofi employees

Back in the day, the Big Fish, Little Fish dance was all the rage – and then the dastardly Baby Shark came along.

But, before the days of that particular ear worm, employees of Sanofi gathered at Newport’s Celtic Manor with one goal in mind – annoying everyone, or more likely, trying to break another quite specific record.

And break that record they did.

On January 18, 2012, the largest Big Fish, Little Fish dance consisted of 284 people.

Rumour has it, that some of those people still have the tune stuck in their head to this day.

Are you in Newport and Gwent, and planning on taking on a world record attempt? Get in touch and let us know.