1990 Egg throwing World Record

In 1990 Pete Keen of Hungerford broke a long standing world record - the record was for raw egg throwing! The previous record holder was an Australian Test cricketer named Fred Spofforth.

Jack Fredricks kindly emailed from Australia (Feb 2019) to let me know about this, and sent a link to the report in The Canberra Times of 18th April 1990:

LONDON: A 112-year-old world record, held by Australian Test cricketer Fred "The Demon" Spofforth for throwing a raw egg, has been broken by an Englishman.

Labourer Peter Keen, 24, from Hungerford in Berkshire, tossed an egg 87.12m yesterday with the shell intact - the key to success.

Spofforth's effort of 45.72m back in 1878 had stood until the annual competition in Aldbourne village, Wiltshire, yesterday.

"I came here as a beginner and am leaving in the world record books." Keen said.

The throwers were each allowed half-a-dozen hen's eggs which must not be more than two days old.

The egg organising committee gave Admiral Anthony Davis, 80, the job of line judge. He wore a pith helmet he used on colonial service in India.

"There's not a lot of arguing when the Admiral is about." a committee member said.

Although Spofforth lost his egg record, he is still Chronicled in the Wisden almanac under "outstanding analyses" for first-class bowling.

He took seven wickets for three runs off 8.3 overs (including six maidens) in a match against an England XI in Birmingham in 1884.

See also:

- Grand Cricket Match at Hungerford Park, England v Hungerford, July 1852