In your FACE!
Adrian retains title as world’s best gurner
COVENTRY’S facial sensation has retained his title as the globe’s greatest gurner.
Adrian Zivelonghi of Tile Hill, impressed judges with his unorthodox facial expressions at the World Gurning Championships, winning for the second consecutive year.
The 50-year-old is a veteran of the gurning scene, competing at the Championships for the last 14 years.
He came close on several occasions, finishing second on two occasions, and third three times – before finally winning for the first time in 2016
This year, he was able to defend his title, thanks to his signature move “The Predator”, and a brand new move, known only as “Teeth”.
He said:“My father was my inspiration. He had a full set of dentures, and when we were young, we used to ask him to take his dentures out and read the newspaper. It had us all in stitches.”
Ady Zivelonghi from Coventry – Winner for the second year running of the World Gurning Championship at the Egremont Crab Fair, Cumbria. The World Championships are held annually as part of the 750-year-old Egremont Crab Fair, and event organiser Steve Foster has praised Adrian, for his commitment as well as his face: “We’re all delighted that he’s retained his crown.“
Adrian is a highly respected person at Egremont. He immerses himself in the whole fair, not just the gurning competition. You’ll see him helping out around the fair, manning barricades to stop cars coming through.
“He’s a really good person,” said Steve.
First held in 1267, contestants have to pull a grotesque face through a horse collar, known as a braffin, and has previously attracted contestants from all over the world.
My father was my inspiration... he’d take his dentures out and read the paper. It had us all in stitches! Adrian Zivelonghi