[Ely Events] Snailracing at Snailwell

[Simon Kershaw]

Fifth Biennial Snailracing Championships

The fifth biennial snailracing championships are due to take place on  
14th July appropriately enough in Snailwell. It is one of the  
highlights of the Snailwell Summer fete; other stalls include the  
white elephant, tombola, pick-a-bottle, a produce stall as well as  
others. All proceeds are for the day-to-day running of St Peter’s  
church.


Hunting for snails 1


Hunting for snails 2 - Unfortunately in the greenhouse.

Previous championships have been sponsored by local stables and  
businesses at a bargain £5 a snail. Maureen the race organiser is  
renowned locally for the usually coloured snails wandering around her  
garden for the next few months. Bright red shells do not give a great  
recipe for a long gastropod life.

The race is on a board with two red circles, an inner one with a  
diameter of 6” and an outer one of 24” being the start and finish  
lines. The speed of the snails varies enormously depending on the  
racing conditions.


Painting the snails – it isn't easy when they keep moving!



Theories vary as to what makes a good racing snail.  The fastest  
snails are the speckled garden snails which can move up to 55 yards  
per hour compared 23 inches per hour of most other land snails.

Maureen, our experienced snail catcher / painter / racer had this to  
say about the intricacies of the snail racer’s technique “snails  
being nocturnal don’t like the heat or the hot sun. The most  
important aspect is to keep spraying the whole proceedings with cold  
water.”



To sponsor a snail please contact Charles Richmond either by e-mail  
(charlierichmond at waitrose.com), or writing (7 The Green, Snailwell,  
Newmarket CB8 7LT). Please include what colours you would like your  
snail to be. Sponsorship money can be paid for either before –  
cheques payable to St Peter’s Church, Snailwell – or on the day.




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