Messenger Newspapers - News, Sport, Leisure, Property, Houses for sale and to rent in Trafford area

An earthy pursuit!

From the archive, first published Monday 3rd Jul 2006.

FATHER and daughter Geoff and Davina Sandberg are Willaston's newest World Champions after charming their way to glory.

Geoff and Davina charmed 127 worms out of the ground to claim the World Worm Charming Championships at Willaston Primary School.

It was Geoff's first taste of glory after competing for the past 21 years with his daughters.

Organiser Mike Forster said: "Geoff has been coming for 21 years and this year he got it right.

"Last year the winner got 240 worms so it was a low total, but that was due to the hardness of the soil.

"All the plots were taken up and it proved so popular that we had to have tag teams."

All 144 plots were taken up by enthusastic 'charmers' when the starting bell sounded across the school field.

Jordan and Darren Long, assisted by Ellie Cooke, caught the heaviest worm at 4.3g, while the prizes were presented by Cheshire poet laureate Andrew Rudd.

Competitors from as far afield as the Phillipines and Palestine took part, while one South African couple interrupted their holiday in Ireland to compete.

Archive Home