Who is Snailor Swift? Taylor Swift-inspired snail wins World Snail Racing Championships in Norfolk
The winning snail covered the 13.5-inch course in three minutes and 13 seconds, earning a prize of fresh lettuce
A snail named “Snailor Swift” has been crowned champion at the World Snail Racing Championships after emerging victorious in the annual competition held at Grimston Cricket Club in west Norfolk.
According to the BBC, 271 snails competed in this year’s event before a crowd of around 600 spectators from the UK and overseas. The competitors raced across 18 heats, with 15 snails taking part in each race for the chance to claim the world title.
Among the creatively named entrants were Christopher Slowlan and Snailifer Lopez, but it was “Snailor Swift” that crossed the finish line first to secure the championship.
Owned by Sam Pemberton, the winning snail covered the 13.5-inch (34cm) course in three minutes and 13 seconds, earning a prize of fresh lettuce.
The World Snail Racing Championships have been running since the 1960s and returned in 2023 after a pause during the Covid-19 pandemic. Event organiser and “Snail Master” Ian Haynes said the competition continues to attract visitors from around the world.
“It was great to see people keeping a quirky, bonkers tradition alive,” Haynes told the BBC.
Competitors also travelled from countries including France, Germany, Poland, the United States and Brazil. French snail racing champion Tom Peytoureau entered his snail, Coquiette, which won its opening heat before being eliminated later in the competition.
Haynes said snail owners often prepare their racers using different methods, including keeping them hydrated with cucumber or storing them in dark conditions before race day. However, he noted that competitors are not allowed to tempt their snails with cucumber during the race itself.
Proceeds from the event support the local community and St Andrew’s Church, with organisers confirming the popular championship is expected to return in 2027.
