OBSERVER: One for the Record Books
A fascination with the Guinness Book of World Records exposed Julian O’Shea to many of the world’s quirky and weirdest world records. And so he questioned the provenance of these records. Will they ever be broken and what do you do to become a record breaker?
His desideratum to break a world record all started as a child, and indeed over the years he has travelled the world as well as Australia in his many attempts to create his own world records, just so he could brag to all as well indulging in self-satisfaction.
He shared a powerpoint presentation with a part he called the Guinness Book of questionable records, one in the 1950s, “Most Murders in a Day” and a later record in the 1980s, of that of an Australian Prime Minister scoffing a beer in 12.1 seconds.
Records that surely have been, or should have been, challenged since and are of course nowhere as good as his personal collection of World Records.
Just two of the many that he racked-up for recognition, “Travelling for 46 hours over the One Day” (clue is the Date Line) and “Skateboarding in snow conditions above 5000 feet”.
With his love of trams and trains – he cited the record held in Melbourne of having the most southerly tram line in the world, and Melbourne still waiting for a train line to an airport after 50 years, both very creditable records that he included in his own AI Volume of Guinness Book of World Records.
O’Shea demonstrated his ability to recall obscure facts, and present them in a credible and fervent performance.
While it may be his style, he did rush many lines where the pace could have been more relaxed, giving rise to a clearer understanding of his many punchlines.
Review by Graeme McCoubrie