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World Worm Charming Championships 2024

How many worms can you attract from the ground? An annual competition in Willaston (Cheshire, UK) draws enthusiasts from all over the world

Dates: June 29, 2024 (unconfirmed)

World Worm Charming Championships
World Worm Charming Championships
World Worm Charming Championships
World Worm Charming Championships
World Worm Charming Championships

The World Worm Charming Championship is an unusual event, during which people of all ages try to extract as many worms out from soil as possible. The event is usually on one of the Saturdays in June at Willaston County Primary School in Willaston, Cheshire.

The event dates back to 1980. According to the International Federation of Charming Worms and Allied Pastimes (IFCWAP), Willaston has witnessed several world records since the event was initiated by John Bailey, deputy headmaster of Willaston County Primary School. In 2009, Sophie Smith, 10, managed to charm 567 worms, setting a record.

Each participant gets three-meter square plots of land. Charming, grunting, and fiddling are the most popular methods to attract earthworms from the ground. Participants use different techniques, like vibrating the ground by sticking implements into it, playing music, or patting the soil. But importing worms from outside and digging is against the rules.

Prizes are awarded for the single heaviest specimen and the largest quantity of warms. After the competition, all the worms are released into the wild.

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Last updated: by Eleonora Provozin