Speed record 0.006 mph: Snail racing champs claim slimy victory in the UK

As the world’s elite athletes converged on Paris for the Olympic Games, showcasing feats of speed and strength, another unique competition unfolded.

Earlier this month, the rural village of Congham, England, played host to this unconventional event.

While Olympic runners clock marathons in just over two hours and sprint 100 meters in under 10 seconds, the focus in Congham was on a different kind of competitor. Garden snails, moving at a decidedly slower pace, were the stars of the show.

The World Snail Racing Championships

Congham, a quaint English village known for its quirky traditions, hosted the World Snail Racing Championships this year. The event drew dozens of the world’s slowest athletes to vie for the title.

The current record for the 13.5-inch course stands at an impressive 2-minute flat. At their maximum velocity—approximately 0.006 miles per hour—these snails would need over six days to cover a mile.

“It isn’t the greatest spectator sport in the world,” admitted Nicholas Dickinson, one of the race organizers alongside his fellow snail master, Ian Haynes. Despite the slow pace, Dickinson and Haynes are passionate about maintaining this peculiar British tradition, as reported by The New York Times ( NYT ).

“Snail racing is just another one of those wonderful British traditions that, I guess, we feel almost a duty to maintain,” Dickinson said. “Because once they die out, I don’t think they’ll ever come back.”

The charm of snail racing comes from its unique nature and the spotlight it puts on the common garden snail, Cornu aspersum. Originally from the Mediterranean, this species has spread worldwide and is often seen as a pest. But in Congham, these snails become the main attraction.

The race day: Conditions and competition

This year’s championship unfolded on a typical British summer day—gray and rainy. “It was a really awful British summer day,” Haynes remarked, as quoted by NYT . Despite the weather, the conditions were ideal for snails, which thrive in moist environments and are sensitive to drying out.

85 snails were divided into eight heats, competing on a damp fabric draped over a table. The racecourse featured two concentric circles, with the snails starting in the smaller circle and racing to the outer one. Each heat began with Haynes’ signature call, “Ready, steady, slow!”

As the race commenced, the snails’ movements varied from steady progress to erratic circles. Some even attempted to hitch rides by attaching themselves to the leading snails. The snail masters promptly intervened.

“That’s unfair racing tactics,” Dickinson noted. “It’s like Usain Bolt starting off the 100 meters with me saying, ‘I’m going to come on your back, Usain, and just jump off at the last 10 meters.’”

After two hours of slow-paced action , the competition narrowed to eight finalists. Last year’s champion, Evie, made a return but did not advance to the final round.

A slimy victory and a tradition preserved

In the grand final, Jeff, a notably robust snail, surged ahead early on and maintained his lead. “He just had his head out and was going for it,” Haynes described. Jeff completed the course in four minutes and five seconds, earning the title of world champion.

He celebrated by leaving a slime trail across the base of his trainer’s trophy. Although the traditional prize of a large head of lettuce was forgotten this year, Dickinson promised to make amends. “I will have to rectify that,” he said. “I could be accused of not fulfilling my snail master duties.”

According to the BBC News , the championship raises around $640 (£500) for the village church. It used to be a highlight of the village fete held in the hall’s grounds. However, the pandemic brought an end to this tradition.

Despite its more than 60-year history, the pandemic marked a turning point, but Dickinson and Haynes are committed to preserving this delightfully peculiar pastime. “People, I think, can’t quite work out whether Ian and I are for real,” Dickinson admitted. “Because we do take this very, very seriously. But we also recognize that it is slightly bonkers.”