By James Inglis (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: November 16, 2011
The Oxford Dictionary defines “worm charming” as, “the sport of enticing worms from their burrows”. Wow, such detail has inspired me to dig further into the sport of worm charming. Although, I was torn between writing about worm charming and the exciting world of Chinese cricket fighting (cricket as in the insects, not that very long and confusing game played with that big ladle thingy by men wearing those white dishwasher like uniforms).
Unlike the better-known spectacle of snake charming, which has been in existence since the time of the first gullible tourists, worm charming seems to be of a more recent origin. According to the “Blackawton International Festival of Worm Charming” the sport has its origins from the beer-reeking urine stream of Dave Kelland in 1983. It seems after a day at the pub, Dave stopped to relieve himself in a field and noticed through his beer haze that his pee was making worms come to the surface. The rest as they say is history. The town of Willaston, Cheshire also stakes the rights to the creation of the sport with a claim they created worm charming in 1980. No information on whose urine was used in Willaston.
From those humble, but wet beginnings a competitive sport was born. There is literally more than one competition throughout the world each and every year. The sport has jumped the boundaries of the British Isles and wormed its way into Canada and the United States. In the U.S. the sport’s name has been changed to “Worm Grutin” because, well actually I have absolutely no idea why Americans do things like that.
Now what would a sport be without rules? While strangely there are no international standards for the sport, the rules between venues are fairly similar. Contestants are each given a plot of earth varying in size between one to three meters depending on where the competition is being held. The aim of the sport is to entice as many worms as possible that reside in the competitor’s plot to rise to the surface within a set period of time (often 15-30 minutes). Competitors are free to use such techniques as music, tap dancing or vibrating garden forks to encourage the worms to rise. In a slap in the face to the sport’s disputed inventor, urine is not an approved method in worm charming. United Press International reports that Kenneth Catalina, a neuroscientist in the U.S. says research has shown the best way to charm worms is to emulate sounds made by the mole, a natural predator of the worm. No word on how many thousands of taxpayer dollars this important research cost.
Now back to the rules. If you don’t want to touch your worms you are permitted to appoint a second to touch them for you. Stealing worms from adjacent plots is not tolerated and worms cut in half are not counted. Directions from the “Worm Master” are to be followed at all times. In events where charming teams are permitted, the teams will consist of a Charmer, a Picker and a Counter. Competitors breaking the rules will be subjected to public humiliation. However, considering the sport they’re involved in, that seems redundant. The winner will be the competitor or team who charm the most worms within the allotted amount of time. In addition, a prize trophy for the heaviest worm is also usually awarded. All captured worms “to be released after the birds have gone to roost on the evening of the event.”
Spectators, I know I was surprised they existed too, will have access to a copious amount of overpriced worm-themed merchandise suitable for immediate removal to an attic, basement or seldom-used closet. Beer is usually available because let’s be honest how else are the organizers going to get people to take part? However, just in case you are foolish enough to think worm charming is not legitimate, be advised none other than the Guinness World Records organization recognizes it as a legitimate competition. The current record holder is now 12-year-old Sophie Smith from the United Kingdom who holds the record for the most charmed worms. She charmed 567 worms on June 27, 2009, a record that stands to this day. Unconfirmed reports from England suggest Sophie refuses to discuss her participation in the sport since the rather unfortunate events of her first day back at school following the competition.
