Sidney the snail is the new world snail racing champion

London, July 19 (ANI): A snail, called Sidney, has won the 'world snail racing championships' by defeating 200 competitors in Britain's Norfolk. he gastropod won the final at the village fete in Congham, Norfolk in a time of three minutes and 41 seconds.

His owner, 62-year-old Claire Lawrence from Litcham, Norfolk, was presented with a silver tankard filled with lettuce. ongham, which has hosted the world championships for more than 25 years, has been hailed as the "Newmarket of snail racing".

"Snails like damp conditions and as Congham is surrounded by ponds and is very low lying it is just right for snails. Congham is to snail racing what Newmarket is to horse racing," the Telegraph quoted Hilary Scase, a championship official, as saying.

Races were held on top of a table covered with a damp cloth.

The snails are placed in the centre of an inner circle, from which they must travel 13-inches to an outer circle which forms the finishing line.

The world record of 2 minutes over the 13-inch course was set up by a snail called Archie in 1995. (ANI)