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Annual Snail Racing World Championships return to England

Slow and steady wins this race.

An annual snail racing event — which holds a Guinness World Record as the longest running humane snail-racing world championships — is making a comeback post pandemic.

The in Congham, England, 🗹returns Satur🎃day after being on hiatus since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Snail Master starts the races, which are being held at , by shouting, “Ready, steady, slow! And off dash the snails!”

The competition, which co🐲nsists of the slimy creatures machining a circle with a braid in the mid🎶dle, is held on a table covered with a cloth.

The novel event began in the 1960s after founder Tomꦕ Elwes watched snails race at an event in France.

snail racing
Snails that are competing are given names like Speedy and Zoomer. Facebook/Snail Racing World Championships Congham
Grimston Cricket Club.
The races are being held at Grimston Cricket Club. Facebook/Snail Racing World Championships Congham

In 1995, the benchmark time of 2 minutes was set by a snail nam🍌ed Archie, who still holds the world record. In 2019, Sammy won, having completed the course in 2 minutes and 38 seconds.

All pr𝄹oceeds from the competition go to St. Andrews Church in Congham.