Egremont Crab Fair: Gurning world champion shares skills with children

Excited pupils at Bookwell Primary School showed their favourite gurns to Claire Lister, who holds the title for best woman gurner.

Gurning world champion Claire Lister pulls her ugliest face for children at Bookwell Primary School ahead of Egremont Crab Fair this weekend (Image: Submitted)

The World Gurning Championships will take place at Egremont Market Hall this Saturday and the town is gearing up for a weekend of festivities.

Shona Wolfenden, Year Six teacher at Bookwell Primary School, said: “The children loved being able to have a go at pulling their ugliest faces. I think we have a few contenders for the years to come!”

Youngsters have a go at gurning with world champion, Claire Lister (Image: Submitted) Jaylen, 10, said: “I enjoyed the Crab Fair Run. It was good fun and lots of my friends were doing it too.”

Phoebe, 10, said: “I am on stage playing with the brass band on Saturday. I can’t wait. The atmosphere is always fantastic.”

Bookwell Primary School pupils have a go at gurning with Claire Lister, the women's world champion, ahead of Egremont Crab Fair (Image: Submitted)

Claire Lister added: “The children loved it, they had so many questions to ask me, and were all interested in how the Crab Fair started and when.

“I'm looking forward to this weekend. It comes round so quickly. It's a very time for me, as my phone is just constant with people ringing!”

Children at Bookwell Primary School loved pulling faces for gurning champion, Claire Lister (Image: Submitted)

Gurning is a key part of the Crab Fair weekend with competitors travelling from across the country. Contestants have to pull a grotesque face through a horse collar, known as a braffin.

Entries for the World Gurning Championships are taken on the night.