Snail racing

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Two racing snails with their shells labeled Melb cup 07 041.jpg
Two racing snails with their shells labeled

Snail racing is a form of humorous entertainment that involves the racing of two or more air-breathing land snails. Usually the garden snail ( Cornu aspersum ) is used. This species is native to Europe, but has been accidentally introduced to many countries all over the world.

Contents

There are numerous snail racing events 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 on top of a table. [1] The radius is traditionally set at 13 or 14 inches (33 to 36 cm). Racing numbers are painted on the shells or small stickers or tags are placed on them to distinguish each competitor.

Competitions

It's always difficult to study the form with snails because they hide inside their shells - but it's actually much easier to commentate on the race because it's slower than horse racing.

—  John McCririck [2]

World Snail Racing Championships

The annual "World Snail Racing Championships" started in Congham, Norfolk, United Kingdom in the 1960s after founder Tom Elwes witnessed a snail racing event in France. [3] They are usually held in July. The 1995 race saw the setting of the benchmark time of 2 minutes over the 13-inch (33 cm) course by a snail named Archie (speed of 0.006 mph). [4] [5] The 2007 event had to be cancelled when the course was waterlogged by a prolonged period of heavy rain, only days after the death of Elwes. [6] The 2008 World Championships were won by Heikki Kovalainen, a snail named after the Formula One racing driver, in a time of 3 minutes and 2 seconds. [7]

Winners of World Snail Racing Championships
YearSeriesChampionSnail nameRace time
199526thCarl Bramham [8] Archie2 mins 0 secs
199627th
199728th
199829thThomas Vincent (1) [9] Schumacher
199930th
200031stThomas Vincent (2) [9] Eddie Irvine4 mins 4 secs [8]
200132nd
200233rdBrendan Hird
200334th
200435th
200536thLiam Ellis [10] Thierry
200637thEmma Hartley [11] Archie2 mins 20 secs
2007Cancelled (waterlogged course)
200838thGeorgie BrownHeikki3 mins 2 secs
200939thClaire HopkinsTerri2 mins 49 secs
201040thClaire Lawrence [5] Sidney3 mins 41 secs
201141stAnton LucasZoomer3 mins 23 secs
201242ndSue Ryder (1)Racer3 mins 20 secs
201343rdSue Ryder (2)Racer II2 mins 47 secs
201444thZeben Butler-Alldred [12] Wells3 mins 19 secs
201545thDale Thorne [13] George2 mins 45 secs
201646thColin Voss [14] Herbie 23 mins 25 secs
201747thTara Beasley [15] Larry2 mins 47 secs
201848thJo Waterfield [16] Hosta3 mins 10 secs
201949thMaria Welby [17] Sammy2 mins 38 secs
2020Cancelled (COVID-19)
2021Cancelled (COVID-19)
2022Cancelled (COVID-19)
202350thLettie Spragg [18] Evie7 mins 24 secs
202451stSimon Lilley [19] Jeff4 mins 5 secs
202552ndShell Rowe [20] Bilbo Sluggins
Multiple Winners
ChampionWinsYears
Sue Ryder22012, 2013
Thomas Vincent21998, 2000

Guinness Gastropod Championship

The first official competitive live 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". [2] This became common terminology for the start of a race. [1] [6] The following year Guinness featured a snail race in their advertisement Bet on Black as part of their "Good things come to those who wait" campaign. [21] 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. [22]

Grand Championship Snail Race

The "Grand Championship Snail Race" began in 1992 in the village of Snailwell, Cambridgeshire, England as part of its annual summer fête. It regularly attracts up to 400 people to the village, more than doubling its usual population. [23]

References

  1. 1 2 11 January 2006 "World Snail Racing Championships: Press release 2". Accessed 5 August 2007.
  2. 1 2 BBC News. 10 December 1999."Ready, steady, escargot". Accessed 5 August 2007.
  3. ↑ "World Championship Snail Racing". Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  4. ↑ "Speed record 0.006 mph: Snail racing champs claim slimy victory in the UK". Interesting Engineering.com. 29 July 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  5. 1 2 Blake, Heidi (19 July 2010). "Sidney the snail races to victory in world championships". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  6. 1 2 Lynn News. 23 July 2007. "Snail racing cancelled". Accessed 5 August 2007.
  7. ↑ Irvine, Chris (21 July 2008). "World Snail Racing Championship won by Formula One driver's namesake". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  8. 1 2 "Fastest snail racing". Vercalendario.info. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Most wins of the World Snail Racing Championships". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "The Race Against Slime. Mollusc World's Sports Correspondent reports on the World Snail-Racing Championships, 2005". The Conchological Society. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  11. ↑ "World Championships at Congham, Norfolk". Dull Men's Club. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  12. ↑ "2014 Champion!". Scase.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  13. ↑ "2015 Champion!". Scase.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  14. ↑ "2016 Champion!". Scase.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  15. ↑ "2017 Champion!". Scase.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  16. ↑ "2018 Champion!". Scase.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  17. ↑ "2019 Champion!". Scase.co.uk. 30 June 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  18. ↑ "Ready, set, slow: The World Snail Racing Championships returns". Metro.co.uk. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  19. ↑ "Snails slug it out at racing world champs". Yahoo News. 7 July 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  20. ↑ "Ready. Steady. Slow: UK Village Hosts World Snail Racing Championships". WE News English. 20 July 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  21. ↑ The Inspiration Room | Daily. "Guinness TV Adverts". Accessed 5 August 2008.
  22. ↑ Cragg, Gully. The Independent. 13 March 2003. "The fine art of the big sell". Accessed 5 August 2008.
  23. ↑ BBC News. 13 July 2007. "Snails race well for village fete". Accessed 5 August 2007.
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