Cracker Archives - Aberdeen Voice

Aberdeen World Record Attempt Falls Short.

Dec 112014

With thanks to Beverly Tricker.

An attempt was made by hundreds of Aberdonians today (Saturday, 6 December), to set a new world record for the longest Christmas cracker pulling chain. The attempt fell short of the current record (749) with 355 shoppers forming a human cracker chain.

The VisitAberdeen-organised event formed part of a drive to promote the city for festive breaks, and attracted large crowds to try and secure their place in the record books.

Steve Harris (pictured), Chief Executive of VisitAberdeen, says,

“We know there have been a number of different attempts around the country to try beat to the record. We were aware it was going to be quite a feat to try and pull off a new record, but it was a gallant effort from everyone who took part and although we didn’t set a new record everyone has really got into the spirit of things, and it’s been brilliant to see whole families take part in the event and have a great time. It’s been a great community event.

“Aberdeen has a lot to offer at Christmas, with the Winter Festival already well under way. From Christmas markets on Belmont Street every weekend in December to an outdoor ice rink in Union Terrace Gardens, the city is full of Christmas cheer and we are delighted to be able to spread some of that festive magic.

“With festive celebrations running right through to January, excellent Christmas shopping opportunities, and first class accommodation, restaurants and pubs, we’re encouraging more people to consider the city for a winter break.”

Further information on the world record attempt can be found on social media at facebook.com/crackerrecord and on twitter.com/CrackerRecord.

For more information on Aberdeen’s festive events, please visit www.visitaberdeen.com

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Christmas Cracker Record Attempt Needs Us To Pull Together

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Dec 052014

With thanks to Stevie Brown, Account Manager, Tricker PR.

An attempt to break the world record for the longest Christmas cracker pulling chain is set to take place in Aberdeen as part of a drive to promote the city for festive breaks.

VisitAberdeen is appealing for cracker pullers to turn out in force to smash the current record which stands at 749 on Saturday Dec 6 .

The human chain of simultaneous cracker snappers will take place in the Bon Accord Centre atrium, with registration beginning at 12pm and the countdown to the ‘big bang’ starting at 1pm.

Steve Harris, Chief Executive of VisitAberdeen, says,

“We have been appealing for people to bring their family and friends to the record attempt for the last few weeks, and the response has been fantastic – we’ve even heard from a family from New Zealand who are going to take part in the event. Christmas is a time of year for people to come together and have fun, and that’s exactly what this record is all about.

“Aberdeen is a magical place at Christmas time and we’re always looking for unusual ways to highlight the festive spirit and activities in the city. We’re a city full of Christmas fun from the Santa’s Grotto and ice rink in Union Terrace Gardens to our excellent high street and independent shopping. From mince pies on the Deeside railway’s Santa Express to craft fayres in Castle courtyards, the discerning traveller from 8 to 80 will find their ideal festive break in and around Aberdeen.”

Craig Stevenson, Centre Manager at the Bon Accord Centre says,

“We’ve never seen a record attempt like this at the centre and we’re really excited to be part of the big event. The first Saturday in December is one of the biggest shopping days of the year and we’re expecting more than 50,000 shoppers to pass through the doors, and would love as many of them as possible to get involved in the world record event.”

Participants can find more information on social media and show their support for the event at facebook.com/crackerrecord and on Twitter @CrackerRecord.

The Christmas cracker world record attempt is supported by Thistle Hotels which have supplied more than 2,500 crackers in the hope of breaking the existing record.

The current world record stands at 749 set by Brindleyplace, Birmingham.

The Christmas cracker was invented by Tom Smith in 1847, and last year over 300 million crackers were pulled in the UK alone.

In order for this event to be considered by the Guinness Book of Records as a genuine world record, each participant must register and be filmed registering for their cracker. The final line of cracker pullers has to be filmed. Organisers expect that it will take 12 weeks to have the record attempt verified by Guinness book of Records.

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Aberdeen’s World Record Ambition Scares Off Competition

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Nov 282014

With thanks to Stevie Brown, Account Manager, Tricker PR

Caroline Will and Chloe Kermoal pull a Christmas Cracker

An ambitious world record attempt to be staged in Aberdeen has scared an English town into postponing their challenge of the same record until after the Granite City has attempted the feat.
Wellington, in Somerset, England, had planned to break the world record for the longest Christmas Cracker pulling chain on Saturday 22 November during their Christmas light switch on parade.

However, the organisers cancelled their attempt when they discovered Aberdeen has set itself a more ambitious target to break the same record on Saturday 6th December.

Organisers of the Wellington attempt plan to wait and see how the Aberdeen event fairs in setting a new record. A spokesperson from the Wellington organising team said:

“This decision was not made lightly but rest assured it is a postponement.”

Wellington has tried to break the world cracker pulling record three times and will now launch their challenge for the longest Christmas Cracker chain on 20 December at AFC Telford, more than two weeks after Aberdeen’s attempt which takes place in the Bon Accord Shopping centre at 1pm on Saturday 6 December.

The event in the Granite City is being staged by VisitAberdeen as part of a drive to promote the city for festive breaks, and VisitAberdeen is appealing for cracker pullers to turn out in force to smash the current world record which stands at 749 set by Brindleyplace, Birmingham. The human chain of simultaneous cracker snappers will take place in the Bon Accord Centre atrium, with registration beginning at 12pm and the countdown to the ‘big bang’ taking place at 1pm.

Steve Harris, Chief Executive of VisitAberdeen, says:

“When we started planning the Christmas Cracker world record attempt at the start of the summer we had no idea that anyone else was also vying to set a new record – all we knew was 749 was the number we needed to beat to get in the record books.

“When we heard that Wellington were also going for the record I was excited – it makes it an even bigger challenge, and I think some friendly competition is good. I wish Wellington good luck in their attempt, and it means that we will have to pull out all the stops here in Aberdeen – I have no doubt that the people of Aberdeen will rally together to help put the region on the map as the new world record holders.”

People who would like to take part in the record attempt are invited to follow the event on Facebook and Twitter and can keep up to date with the record attempt at facebook.com/crackerrecord and on @CrackerRecord.

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