Ready, steady, slooo . . .

They came from near and far carrying their precious gastropod racers in lettuce-lined butter tubs and Perspex boxes.

It was the morning of the second Great Aylsham Snail Race in the Market Place in August and entrants aged from three years old to 81 lined up their champions on the centre circle of the tablecloth racetrack.

And they were off . . .

It was a chaotic start as several of the 15 contestants decided to nobble rivals by climbing over their shells.

However, the Snailmaster desperately tried to restore order, and once untangled, the racers proceeded at snail’s pace to the 13-inch finish line.

The winner of the Open was Creepy Crawler, trainer Ava Bayle, aged three, and owner Norma Neave, of Aylsham. It came in at 3 mins 57.7 secs – about three lengths ahead of Banana, trained by Thomas Robinson.

A delighted Ava received the coveted Lettuce Cup winner’s trophy and graciously thanked everyone for a great race.

Last was Snelkie, owned by Norfolk-based wild swimmers group The Selkies, four young women from around Norwich (and London), in a time which nobody waited long enough to record.

And there was drama and an unexpected twist in the second race of the day, the Business Challenge Cup, arranged on behalf of Aylsham traders, for second and third place.

The race was won by Broadland Framers & Gallery, of Penfold Street, owned by Clare Clerke, in a time of 4 mins 43.6 secs.

But it was a photo finish for second and third as Coxford’s, the butchers and M’s cocktail bar and deli went neck-and-neck for the line. It was business competition at its best as the snails were owned by husband and wife Johnny and Emma Payne respectively. Johnny’s snail just edged it.

Slow Food Aylsham is indebted to the 15 traders who sponsored their snails for £10 each and thanks them for their generosity as all proceeds will go to the North Norfolk Foodbank:

Aylsham Candles, Aylsham Computers, BonBons, Bread Source, Broadland Framers & Gallery, Carousel, Cobble Yard, Co-op, Coxford’s, Gates of India, Harvest, J Christian (Jewellers), Lavenders Blue, M’s, Seventeen.