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Winners move at snail's pace
Monday, 21 July, 2008
Snail racing: a bid for the Olympics to take the 'sport' seriously (SBS)
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It took the winning snail 3 minutes and 2 seconds to cover the 33-centimetre course at the World Snail Racing Championships in England this weekend.
Heikki Kovalainen might have a Finnish name but it beat its English counterparts in a game on their home ground.
IN-DEPTH: More offbeat stories
VIDEO: Snail racing
Thirteen-year old Georgie Brown from Grimston is the proud owner of this snail, who fell short of the world record that stands at 2 minutes 9 seconds and is held by a snail called 'Archie'.
Race's long history
Over 170 snails competed at this year's championships, which is on its 27th year.
Garden snails were used and most competitors brought their own snails, some of which were champions from previous years.
There were fifteen heats to whittle the slimiest sporting superstars down to the serious contenders.
Tom Fordyce is a snail trainer and says the creatures are put through a rigorous training regime.
"I've been a little bit ruthless," he says.
"I've paired down my initial squad of about 20 to just a couple and these are the one's that are really hungry for it, they really want it and I think you can see that when they're competing."
The village of Congham in Norfolk, where these championships are held, prides itself on its ability to breed fast snails -- apparently because of the soil they have there.
Source: Reuters
Heikki Kovalainen might have a Finnish name but it beat its English counterparts in a game on their home ground.
IN-DEPTH: More offbeat stories
VIDEO: Snail racing
Thirteen-year old Georgie Brown from Grimston is the proud owner of this snail, who fell short of the world record that stands at 2 minutes 9 seconds and is held by a snail called 'Archie'.
Race's long history
Over 170 snails competed at this year's championships, which is on its 27th year.
Garden snails were used and most competitors brought their own snails, some of which were champions from previous years.
There were fifteen heats to whittle the slimiest sporting superstars down to the serious contenders.
Tom Fordyce is a snail trainer and says the creatures are put through a rigorous training regime.
"I've been a little bit ruthless," he says.
"I've paired down my initial squad of about 20 to just a couple and these are the one's that are really hungry for it, they really want it and I think you can see that when they're competing."
The village of Congham in Norfolk, where these championships are held, prides itself on its ability to breed fast snails -- apparently because of the soil they have there.
Source: Reuters
