Video: Circus juggler takes axe to Guinness record

Chris Marley, 29, has made his way in to the Guinness World Records book after making an astonishing 369 throws in a row - successfully beating the previous record held by American Max Winfrey by 200 catches.

Chris trained for months to perfect his technique and managed to avoid any serious injuries when throwing the metal blades.

He said: “I trained using the axes, because there isn’t really a way around it – they have a pretty unusual weight distribution.

“It was difficult and I had a couple of near misses, but all my fingers and toes are still intact.

“It feels good to be a record holder, all the hard work has paid off.

“The only problem now is I have a load of axes which I don’t need.”

Chris has been juggling for 12 years and trains at Greentop Circus in Sheffield, although he travels the country to perform as a freelance juggler.

The world record was broken at Greentop in November and filmed for Guinness adjudicators who have now made it official.

A panel of experts and independent witnesses watched, while Chris also had to chop wood with each of the axes to show they were sharp and fit for purpose.

He said: “It started when I was a teenager and then I started getting bookings, did some part-time work and now I am professional, so really it is a hobby that got out of hand.

“I’ve been juggling for years and wanted to try something a little bit different and break a world record.

“Friends were surprised when I told them about the axe juggling, but when I tell people what I do for a living, they don’t always believe me anyway.

“I’d never say never about another world record, but not at the moment, although I have got some stuff in the pipeline for new tricks.”