Why Not Try to Set a World Record
In early 1975 John Dean, 30 years old, was looking for a challenge of some kind. He considered the record for endurance skipping which stood at 43,473 turns of the rope without a break in five hours. He was playing pennant squash at Essendon Squash Club and decided that a suitable goal would be to break the world squash endurance record which then stood at 60 hours 10 minutes. The idea was approved by the owners of the courts and the club committee in March 1975. The record attempt was set for the Queens Birthday weekend in June.
The Guinness Book of Records was contacted to verify the conditions under which a record would be accepted and organisation of the attempt began. John has kept all the paperwork of the attempt and it can be seen just how meticulously this project was managed. Many volunteers were required to oversee the matches, opponents sought, medical support organised, publicity arranged, provide food and refreshments to visitors and invited guests. Local dignitaries were approached to verify the paperwork, just part of the exacting requirements.
The record had increased to 67 hours 8 minutes by the Queens Birthday weekend to make the task even more daunting.
The rules were:
- Time between games, 1 minute, between matches 2 minutes;
- 5 minutes rest every hour, which could be accumulated;
- Maximum of 11 games per hour
Training and Preparation
As a B Grade pennant squash player John was fit, but he increased his training for the event. He recorded 205 hours of squash and 965 km of running as training.
Four training sessions of 5, 10, 25 and 40 hours were arranged leading up to the record attempt, testing not only John’s fitness but also the procedures necessary to ensure all record requirements could be fulfilled.
Paper Trail
The results for each of the 526 games played were written down as shown in the example below which records the match with Brian Dixon. Photograph and more information for this match is shown further down the page.
He played a total of 526 matches against 145 opponents, winning 262 and losing 264.
Breaks between games and matches were also recorded.
Accounting for the 5 minutes per hour rest breaks was also thoroughly recorded.
The accumulated rest breaks were used for toileting, eating and medical checks. The attempt began at 10pm Friday evening, and John had few problems until early Sunday morning. Then, spectators used several methods to keep him going, including cajoling and abusing him, rushing onto the court with a chair between breaks, washing his face at every opportunity and on one occasion physically carrying him back onto the court. By daylight the crisis had passed, and following John taking a two-kilometre run to Queens Park and return during an accumulated time break, he was ready mentally and physically to tackle the 36 odd hours remaining in play.
John pushed on after passing the existing record of 67 hours 12 minutes to reach 72 hours 12 minutes. He says that the last 90 minutes was the hardest as he found it difficult to focus and concentrate.
John had no sleep for approximately 87 hours
John and Brian Dixon after their match. Note the audience in the gallery.
Brian Dixon was Minister for Sport and Recreation in the Victorian parliament. He had previously played 252 games for the Melbourne VFL team. As part of his ministerial role, he was heavily involved in the inception of the Melbourne Marathon, running it eleven times between 1979 and 1991. He is Spartan S100.
John is receiving a massage, during a rest break, from one of the three trainers who assisted him.
He had a consultation with the club doctor for the Essendon VFL team, Dr Leon Lewi, prior to the attempt for advice. The Doctor was very helpful, as was Stan Nicholls, fitness advisor at Essendon. He was pronounced physically fit after the record was achieved. Dr Lewi has been John’s GP ever since.
We don’t have full records of John’s food intake, but spaghetti, honey sandwiches and Sustagen figure heavily.
Success!
Not only was record achieved, but the final time of 72 hours 12 Minutes was several hours longer than the previous record.
Supporters of John’s efforts donated a tidy sum to the Minus Children Appeal
John with wife Karen and children Andrew and Kellie.
Karen was in charge of food for the attempt.
The feat was recognised in many publications, making the front page of the Essendon Gazette. He is pictured below with Pat Willoughby, President of the Essendon Squash Club and Karen.
Note from Pat Willoughby
Pat Willoughby was President of the Essendon Squash Club at the time of the record attempt and recently sent us these comments.
John has left a lasting legacy for Essendon Squash Club members – one of self-belief, determination, and courage, indicative of the man himself. It was an amazing achievement. We are so proud of him.
The event required meticulous planning and John, the ESC committee and the court owners – John and Sue Rainey, worked tirelessly for several months, to ensure he reached his goal. Lack of experience in event staging was overcome by enthusiasm, we flew by the seat of our pants and somehow it all fell into place. The Guinness Book of Records rules were complex and had to be followed to the letter, any discrepancy could negate the result and we were fearful this would happen.
The marathon received a lot of publicity. John was a well-respected club member, reflected by the support of so many of our own players and those of other clubs. Community support was outstanding. Players came from all walks of life, all keen to be part of history.
But in the end it was all up to one man who drove himself to the point of exhaustion but held it all together to write himself into the record book. Essendon Squash Club was privileged to have been a part of it.
Alan Murphy’s book “Cede Nullis 50 Golden Years of Essendon Squash Club” contains an excellent account of John’s marathon journey.
John Dean, Spartan Life Member
This page briefly describes why John is a highly esteemed life member of the Melbourne Marathon Spartans.