STEADY WINS THE RACE

A circular table stands in a field in Congham, Norfolk. It is covered with a white tablecloth with a red circle stitched in the centre. A larger red circle is stitched around it, 13in away. This is the setting for this July’s World Snail Racing Championships, held in the village annually for more than 25 years. Snails are numbered for identification and placed in the inner circle, facing outwards. The race is started by the snail trainer, who begins proceedings with a shout of “Ready, steady, slow”, and off go the participants. The tablecloth is kept damp to protect the snails. After a number of heats, the winner is declared and presented with a tankard full of lettuce.