The Snail Racing World Championships were started in Congham, Norfolk in the 1960s by Tom Elwes after watching snail racing in France.

The races take place on a round table covered with a white cloth. The Snail Master keeps the course damp. Snails thrive in damp conditions.

The Snail Master starts each race by shouting “ready, steady, slow” — then off crawl the snails.