Snails big and small paraded at the third annual Great Aylsham Snail Race ready to slug it out for the coveted Lettuce Pot trophy.
The race, dubbed the “slowest and silliest”, and organised by Slow Food Aylsham, attracted widespread interest from children aged from two years old to 13 – and a big kid aged 83 – as well as more local traders than ever.
Held in the Market Place on Saturday 2 August, the Open race for children was eventually won by Glitter Horn, trained by Cleo Biggs. It beat 16 contenders in a time of 7mins 12.42secs – just one minute ahead of second place Go Sally, from the stables of last year’s winning trainer, Ava Bayle. Ice Cream, owned and trained by Yasmin Koch, aged 5, which had kept a steady pace throughout, was third.
It was a hesitant start as the excited children cheered on their favourites – but there were mutterings of concern as the snails barely moved despite being cheered on by the growing crowd.
After a couple of long minutes, it was evident that something was wrong.
The groundsman/Snailmaster had forgotten to prepare the very dry track and quickly remedied the situation with a few squirts of water to dampen the racecourse, an ideal condition for racing.
The snails quickly picked up the pace.
Heading the pack was Pille, owned and trained by Emi Bennet, who had flown in from Hungary for the race (but also to see her grand-parents) – closely followed by Turbo Ted (Teddy Thompson), Bob (Thomas King) and Ice Cream (Yasmin Koch).
But after some unseemly mid-track nobbling and interference, it was all change, as Glitter Horn took advantage of the freshly-watered pitch, and stormed ahead.
The 83-year-old “big kid” was Norma Neave, great-nan to Ava, who owned the unplaced Up The City.
PICTURED ABOVE: WINNER: Cleo Biggs with Snailmaster Patrick Prekopp. RUNNER-UP: Ava Bayle. WINNER: Harvest and Mandy Baker and Barbara Foord. RUNNER-UP: Crawford White of White’s the butcher.
In the Business Challenge Cup, more than 20 traders took local competition to another level to compete for their own Lettuce Pot trophy.
Each of the 21 snails was sponsored for £10 and out to break last years’ time of 4 mins 43.6 secs.
The winner, Harvest, owned by local greengrocer Marion Brett, crossed the line in a record 3mins 39.46secs well ahead of runners up White’s (second) and Lavenders Blue (third).
Questions were asked about how a greengrocer who donated the Lettuce Pot trophy won a snail race.
However, a subsequent Steward’s Inquiry ruled that no offence had been committed, and the result stood.
Slow Food Aylsham is indebted to all the children, parents and friends who took part and the traders who sponsored their snails for £10 each and thanks them for their generosity. The £210 proceeds will go to the North Norfolk Foodbank.
How they finished
THE OPEN
WINNER: No 12 – Glitter Horn, trainer Cleo Biggs, aged 5, in 7 min 12.42 secs (last year: 4 min 56 secs)
2nd: No 2 – Go Sally, (Ava Bayle, 4) in 7 min 31.15 secs (4 min 38 secs)
3rd: No 8 – Ice Cream, (Yasmin Koch, 5) in 8 min 08.58 secs
BUSINESS CHALLENGE CUP
WINNER: No 13 – Harvest, owned by Marion Brett, in 3 min 30.46 secs (5 min 58 secs)
2nd: No 10 – G F White, Crawford White, in 6 min 29.60 secs (8 min 15 secs)
3rd: No 9 – Lavenders Blue, Sara Batterbee, in 6 min 51.18 secs (8 min 15 secs)
Businesses: Black Boys, BonBons, Bonds Chip Shop, Book Hive, Broadland Framers, Cobble Yard, Co-op, Country Markets, Coxfords, Dog Stop, Harvest , Carousel, G F White, Lavenders Blue, M’s, Madeleines, One Fox, Postles, Seventeen, Stamp, Urban Clay.