Snail racing
Encyclopedia
Snail racing is a sport that involves the racing of two or more air-breathing land snail
s, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs. Usually the common garden snail species Helix aspersa is used. This species is native to Europe, but has been accidentally introduced to many countries all over the world.
There are numerous snail racing events that take place in different places around the world, though the majority take place in the United Kingdom
.
Snail races usually take place on a circular track with the snails starting in the middle and racing to the perimeter. The track usually takes the form of a damp cloth atop a table. The radius is traditionally set at 13 or 14 inches. Racing numbers are painted on the shells or small stickers or tags are placed on them to distinguish each competitor.
, Norfolk
in the 1960s after founder Tom Elwes witnessed the event in France. The 1995 race saw the setting of the benchmark time of two minutes by a snail named Archie. The 2007 event, sponsored by Persil
, had to be cancelled when the course was waterlogged by a prolonged period of heavy rain, only days after the death of Elwes. The 2008 World Championships was won by Heikki Kovalainen, a snail named after the Formula One racing driver
, in a time of three minutes, two seconds. The 2010 World Championship was won by a snail called Sidney in a time of three minutes and 41 seconds.
The first official competitive snail race in London, the "Guinness Gastropod Championship" held in 1999, was commentated by horse racing
pundit John McCririck
who started the race with the words "Ready, Steady, Slow". This is common terminology for the start of a race. The following year Guinness
featured a snail race as part of their "Good things come to those who wait
" campaign. The advert won the silver award at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival
and was self-parodied for their "Extra Cold" campaign several years later.
The "Grand Championship Snail Race" began in Cambridgeshire
in 1992 in the village of Snailwell
as part of its annual summer fête. It regularly attracts up to 400 people to the village, more than doubling its usual population.
Land snail
A land snail is any of the many species of snail that live on land, as opposed to those that live in salt water and fresh water. Land snails are terrestrial gastropod mollusks that have shells, It is not always an easy matter to say which species are terrestrial, because some are more or less...
s, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs. Usually the common garden snail species Helix aspersa is used. This species is native to Europe, but has been accidentally introduced to many countries all over the world.
There are numerous snail racing events that take place in different places around the world, though the majority take place in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Snail races usually take place on a circular track with the snails starting in the middle and racing to the perimeter. The track usually takes the form of a damp cloth atop a table. The radius is traditionally set at 13 or 14 inches. Racing numbers are painted on the shells or small stickers or tags are placed on them to distinguish each competitor.
Competitions
The annual "World Snail Racing Championships" started in ConghamCongham
Congham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated some 10 km west of the town of King's Lynn and 55 km west of the city of Norwich....
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
in the 1960s after founder Tom Elwes witnessed the event in France. The 1995 race saw the setting of the benchmark time of two minutes by a snail named Archie. The 2007 event, sponsored by Persil
Persil
Persil is a brand of laundry detergent currently and originally made by Henkel & Cie; but which is now also licensed for manufacture, distribution, and marketing in several countries by the Unilever Corporation. Henkel and Unilever both manufacture their own formulations...
, had to be cancelled when the course was waterlogged by a prolonged period of heavy rain, only days after the death of Elwes. The 2008 World Championships was won by Heikki Kovalainen, a snail named after the Formula One racing driver
Heikki Kovalainen
Heikki Johannes Kovalainen is a Finnish Formula One racing driver who spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons with British based team McLaren and the 2010 and 2011 seasons with Team Lotus....
, in a time of three minutes, two seconds. The 2010 World Championship was won by a snail called Sidney in a time of three minutes and 41 seconds.
The first official competitive snail race in London, the "Guinness Gastropod Championship" held in 1999, was commentated by horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
pundit John McCririck
John McCririck
John McCririck is an English television horse racing pundit. He is notable not only for his racing opinions but also for his old-fashioned style of dress and mannerisms...
who started the race with the words "Ready, Steady, Slow". This is common terminology for the start of a race. The following year Guinness
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
featured a snail race as part of their "Good things come to those who wait
Good things come to those who wait
"Good things come to those who wait" is an advertising slogan used by Diageo in television, cinema, and print advertising campaigns promoting Guinness-brand draught stout in the United Kingdom. The slogan formed the cornerstone of advertising agency Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO's successful pitch to...
" campaign. The advert won the silver award at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival
Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is a global event for those working in advertising and related fields. The seven-day festival, incorporating the awarding of the Lions awards, is held yearly at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, France...
and was self-parodied for their "Extra Cold" campaign several years later.
The "Grand Championship Snail Race" began in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
in 1992 in the village of Snailwell
Snailwell
Snailwell is a small village and civil parish in East Cambridgeshire, England around north of Newmarket.-History:The parish of Snailwell covers an area of in the extension of eastern Cambridgeshire that surrounds the town of Newmarket in Suffolk...
as part of its annual summer fête. It regularly attracts up to 400 people to the village, more than doubling its usual population.