WHSmith Challenge

Please submit your entry before the deadline

From: 27 October 2024, 00:00 GMT
To: 13 November 2024, 17:00 GMT

Are you part of the WHSmith family? Have you always wanted to break a record? If that's you, this is your chance to become Officially Amazing!

Attempt the record for the fastest time to stand 10 pencils and prove your record-breaking talents. 

The challenge will run for a limited time, from 27 October until 13 November 2024. Submissions after the deadline will not be valid.

The five top-scoring challenges will qualify for an official attempt with an official Guinness World Records adjudicator.

How to submit your entry:

The current fastest time to stand 10 pencils is 15.43 seconds, and was achieved by the Australian serial record-breaker Brendan Kelbie. 
The feat was completed in Palmwoods, on 3 July 2024.

Guidelines

This record is the fastest time to stand 10 pencils on end. The record must be attempted by an individual.

• This record is measured in seconds to the nearest 100th of a second.
• For the purposes of this record, each pencil must be longer than 15 cm (5.91 in) and not exceed 7 mm (0.28 in) in diameter.

Make sure you read the guidelines thoroughly and have a few trial runs to test your skills: practice is the keyword of every record holder! Once you're confident, it's time to race against the clock and have an official go.

1. Any commercially available, unmodified pencils can be used for this attempt. Details of the pencils used must be provided with the claim.
2. The challenger cannot touch any pencils before the time starts.
3. A flat, hard, solid surface must be used.
4. Pencils must be laid out, not touching each other and horizontally against the flat, hard surface before the attempt begins.
5. The challenger can only use one hand to balance the pencils; the other hand must be behind the challenger's back throughout the record attempt.
6. The challenger must begin with their hand flat on the table.
7. Only one pencil at a time may be picked up and balanced. If the challenger picks up more than one pencil at a time, the attempt is disqualified.
8. If a pencil falls during the one minute the challenger is permitted to stand it back up.
9. The pencils must be standing on end for at least 5 seconds after the minute has expired in order to count towards the record total. Any pencils not standing for this time will be deducted.
10. Video proof of the attempt's setup must show the absence of any glue, magnets, or attempt to make the challenge easier.

Uploading your attempt

Follow the instructions to upload the video of your setup and official attempt, so our record experts can review your feat.

Please note that the challenge is only open to WHSmith employees and family members. 

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