Cumbria: World Gurning Championships are back | UK News

The World Gurning Championships have made a return this year and some of the faces pictured are quite simply priceless.

The unusual event is the first time it has hit the streets of Egremont, in Cumbria, for four years as part of the Egremont Crab Fair which is held this weekend.

But the World Gurning Championships are set to be held this evening and judging by the photos the competition is strong.

The competition is for juniors and seniors with the winners of the senior competitions being crowned the World Gurning Champion.

Across the weekend people can also enjoy local entertainers, a junior talent competition, traditional horn blowing and hunting/comic songs.

But what is gurning for those of you unsure of the term? Well in a nutshell, gurningis the process of pulling a very grotesque face.

Lo and behold the World Gurning Championships are to see who can pull the most grotesque face.

Gurning works by people putting their heads through horse collar or braffin while they create the ugliest, most grotesque faces they can manage.

A man called Tommy Mattinson is the one to beat and is the legend of gurning after winning the World Championship 16 times.

Egremont Crab Fair was founded by royal charter in 1267, making it one of the oldest fairs in the country.

It attracts visitors from across the UK and around the world.

Most of the competitions are free to enter, including the gurning competitions.

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