What was the disagreement that led to the creation of the Guinness Book of Records?

Answer 1

The argument that led to the creation of the Guinness World Records was about the fastest game bird. In 1951, Sir Hugh Beaver and his companions disagreed about whether the fastest game bird was the golden plover or the red grouse.

Answer 2

quote from search: On http://www.answers.com/topic/november-10 http://www.answers.com/topic/1951, http://www.answers.com/topic/hugh-beaver, then the managing director of the http://www.answers.com/topic/st-james-s-gate-brewery, went on a shooting party in http://www.answers.com/topic/wexford-harbour, by the http://www.answers.com/topic/river-slaney in http://www.answers.com/topic/county-wexford, http://www.answers.com/topic/Ireland. He became involved in an argument: which was the fastest game bird in http://www.answers.com/topic/Europe, the http://www.answers.com/topic/eurasian-golden-plover or the http://www.answers.com/topic/grouse? That evening at Castlebridge House, he realized that it was impossible to confirm in reference books whether or not the golden plover was Europe's fastest game bird.http://www.answers.com/guiness%20book#wp-_note-1 Beaver thought that there must be numerous other questions debated nightly in the 81,400 pubs in Britain and Ireland, but there was no book with which to settle arguments about records. He realized then that a book supplying the answers to this sort of question might prove popular. Beaver's idea became reality when Guinness employee http://www.answers.com/topic/christopher-chataway recommended student twins http://www.answers.com/topic/norris-mcwhirter and http://www.answers.com/topic/ross-mcwhirter, who had been running a fact-finding agency in http://www.answers.com/topic/london-2005-film. The brothers were commissioned to compile what became The Guinness Book of Records in August 1954. One thousand copies were printed and given away.http://www.answers.com/guiness%20book#wp-_note-2

Answer 3

The Guinness Book of Records was created in 1955 by Sir Hugh Beaver, the Managing Director of the Guinness Breweries, to settle disputes that arose during hunting parties over the fastest game bird in Europe. Beaver wanted to provide a reliable reference book to help resolve such disagreements, and thus the idea for the Guinness Book of Records was born.