Unexpected no-shows and race track drama threatened to scupper the fourth annual Great Aylsham Snail Race.
More than half the entries failed to turn up, forcing a last-minute reshuffle before the first of three races at the Food & Craft Market in Aylsham’s Market Place earlier this month.
To add to the excitement, the Business Challenge Cup was briefly thrown into chaos by a controversial lettuce leaf incident.
Fortunately, true Aylsham spirit prevailed. Racegoers rallied round and a crowd of children, parents and plenty of enthusiastic “big kids” enjoyed a morning of nail-biting—if gloriously slow-paced—entertainment.
Ava Bayle and cousin Teddy Thompson with their winning snails. Pictures: Holly Louise.
The Open races belonged to one rising star of the snail racing world. Young Teddy Thompson proved to have the magic touch as his trusty racer, Turbo Ted 2.0, won both races in times of 5 minutes 04.57 seconds and an even quicker 3 minutes 43.40 seconds.
Keeping it in the family, Teddy’s cousin Ava Bayle took second place in the first race with England, while Jasmine Snowling’s Snooky finished third. Snooky returned for race two to claim another third-place finish behind runner-up Milly Prophet and Guidey.
The day’s biggest talking point came in the Business Challenge Cup when Tim Briscoe of The Ironmongers attempted to coax his snail along with a lettuce leaf . . . dangling from a fishing rod. (Pictured above – Ian Gravenell.)
Briscoe has previous form, having been disqualified in the past for similar tactics, prompting an immediate Stewards’ Enquiry by the ever-watchful Snail Master.
The verdict? While the tactic may have been inventive, it hadn’t altered the result—mainly because the supposedly tempted snail decided to head back towards the starting ring instead.
With order restored, Celebrations, owned by Lisa Grand, claimed the Business Challenge Cup in 5 minutes 57.84 seconds. The Black Boys, owner Matt Miller, finished second in 6 minutes 30 seconds, with Seventeen, owned by Dan Howes, taking third in 7 minutes 15.97 seconds.
Summing up the day’s antics, Snail Master Pat Prekopp said: “There’s never a dull moment at these races. Who said snails were boring?”
The event also raised £210 for the North Norfolk Food Bank thanks to the generous sponsorship of local businesses, notably Beeyutiful, Black Boys, BonBons, Cobble Yard, Book Hive, Broadland Framers, Celebrations, Coxfords, Creative Lincs, Dig In, G F White, Harvest, Ironmongers, Lavenders Blue, M’s, Mane St Barbers, One Fox, Postles, Seventeen, Urban Clay, and Wagtails Pet Shop.