Hunstanton man's tandem ride finally called world record

A man from Hunstanton has officially been awarded the Guinness World Record for cycling circumnavigation of the world by tandem.

John Whybrow completed his epic journey in March, 2017, but he and co-rider George Agate have had to wait until now for the official confirmation that it has been accepted as a record.

The pair, who met while studying at the University of Kent, pedalled more than 18,000 miles unsupported, but have had to wait until now to be awarded the record. It took them 290 days, seven hours and 36 minutes to get back to Canterbury.

Leaving in June 2016, they pedalled out of the UK and across mainland Europe into Turkey and Georgia, along the coast of India, from Bangkok down the Malaysian peninsula to Singapore, across the southern coast of Australia, up the length of both islands of New Zealand, from San Francisco into Mexico and all the way down the Pan American highway through Central America to Panama, a short stint in Morocco and then a final sprint up the length of Spain and France back to the UK.

“It is such a relief, at points I thought they might not award us the record,” said John.

They raised money for three charities, Porchlight, a Kent charity working with the homeless, Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and Wateraid