Since 1960, the World Championship in snail racing has taken place in the village of Congham in England. This after founder Tom Elwes caught the eye of snail race events in France.
Every year, hundreds of people gather around the competition where the snail master and organizer Nickolas Dickson starts the competition by shouting “Ready, steady, slow!”.
– I like the pace. You can run off for a cup of tea and come back, says Chris Hamilton, owner of a participating snail, and continues:
– They have had organic food outdoors for the past year. We have collected them right before and keep them in boxes before the race which ignites their adrenaline.
World record registered in the Guinness Book of Records
In this year’s edition, 150 snails participated, some of whose shells were decorated with flags from different parts of the world. According to the rules, however, giant snails are not allowed to participate.
– You need snails that are the right size, the smaller snails tend to have a harder time competing, says Dickson.
The competition track is 34 centimeters long. The world record of two minutes, which the snail Archie took home in 1995, has been registered in the Guinness Book of Records, among other places. A record that this year’s winning snail Jeff failed to break despite a strict training program and diet consisting of green leaves.
See when the WC in snail racing is decided in the clip above.