Record-Breaking Rope from the Master Ropemakers
Proving the Master Ropemakers can turn their hands to any project, we’re excited to say that our rope has been a part of breaking an Official Guinness World Record.
The team at Master Ropemakers were approached early last summer by the families of Owen Calvert, Freddie Smith and Otis Sampson, a group of school children in Tonbridge, who were making an attempt at breaking the world record for the longest game of tug-of-war. The group of boys recruited 490 others to make the attempt in an effort to raise money for the charity War Child. During the record attempt, no part of the rope may touch the ground, with three rounds being played. The game took place on 24 June 2024, with the collected evidence then sent over to officials.
A tense wait
After what must have been a tense wait for the boys over the last few months, confirmation was provided on the Guinness World Records site just last week that they had broken the world record.
The ropery team is delighted for the boys, with Alex, managing director of Master Ropemakers, adding,
“It’s a privilege to be a part of something as exciting as a world record attempt. Knowing that a rope made here at The Master Ropemakers has made such an impact is fantastic.”
The previous record had been made with a 518m long rope with the Master Ropemakers providing a length of rope 40 metres longer than this to break the record. The boys used 558 metres of 36mm synthetic hemp tug-of-war rope, made from three ropes with two long splices right here at our ropery. The Historic Dockyard has been producing rope for over 400 years right here in Chatham, with the Master Ropemakers team still manufacturing rope commercially using heritage techniques.
After a well-deserved break for Christmas, Alex and the team at the Master Ropemakers will be back in our ropery ready to provide ready-made and bespoke rope products. If you’ve got a project in mind, whether you’re attempting to break a world record or not, get in touch. No rope is too long or project too big.
