World Pea Shooting Championships


The World Pea Shooting Championships have been held annually since 1971 on the second Saturday in July, in the village of Witcham near Ely in Cambridgeshire, England, and has attracted competitors from as far afield as the USA, Canada, Scandinavia, France, Spain, New Zealand and Holland.

Rules

Peas are shot at a 12 inch target smeared with glazing putty, 12 feet away, with a peashooter not exceeding 12 inches in length, there are no restrictions to technology providing the pea is propelled
by blowing with the mouth, also, anyone can enter.

History

The World Pea Shooting Championship was conceived in 1971 as a fund-raising idea for the building of a modern Village Hall by the headmaster of the village school, John I. Tyson, however, the school is long since closed, and children from Witcham now go to primary school in nearby Mepal. In 2003, the Parish Council funded the purchase of the John Tyson Shield on which the open champion's name is recorded each year.
The competition tends to be dominated by local entrants, though a small number travel from around the world, notably the United States, and American personnel from the nearby US airbases of RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath have competed. The day is combined with village fete featuring games, stalls, and more.

Recent champions

In 2010, Ian Ashmeade became the 40th World Pea Shooting Champion. In 2011, he retained the title beating four-time World Champion George Hollis in the semifinal, and 2009 champion Jim Collins in the final.
In 2011, Emma Watson became the Ladies' World Pea Shooting Champion despite it being the very first time she had picked up a pea shooter.
In 2012, Julie Bissmire beat Tina Pullman to win the Women's event. In the open event, Rob Bresler defeated the 2010 and 2011 champion, Ian Ashmeade, in the quarterfinals, and Jim Collins in the final.
In 2013, the ladies title went to Helen Phillips. Rob Bresler won the open event again in 2013, defeating Toby Bush in the final.
In 2014, Rob Bresler saw off 61 other competitors to retain his title. Also in 2014, Michelle Berry won the ladies title, while the junior title went to Haddenham's Martha Collins.
In 2016, at the 46th World Peashooting championships, Michelle Berry made history by regaining her Ladies title for the third consecutive year, using a laser shooter made by her father. She fought her way through a strong field, while also reaching the semi-finals in the Open championship category. After a very tense final, which went into extra time, Jim Collins went on to beat Rob Bresler to take the title of Open champion, also the third title in his career.
In 2017, incredibly for the fourth consecutive year, Michelle Berry kept her title by winning the Ladies Champion category, Martha Collins was runner-up. Jim Collins beat Ian Ashmeade in the open event. Martha Collins won the junior title beating Madeline Bresler the runner-up. In the team event the Haddenham Easy Riders beat Stockport Massive to the team title.
In 2018, after unveiling a new pub sign at The White Horse, with his head on it, Ian Ashmeade in his iconic horned helmet thrashed the 2017 Champeaion Jim Collins to take the 48th World Pea Shooting title after 7 years in the car park of dispeare. His team, the Haddenham Easy Riders, also took the team first place, only just in front of the ladies' team Pea-u-tiful featuring Ian's girlfriend Sally Redman-Davies. Sally then went on, at her first attempt, to beat the 2017 ladies' World Champeaion Michelle Berry in a tense final. She only missed 1 peaseye out of 10 with a score of 48/50 in the final - what a debut!

World Pea Shooting Championship results (WPSC) 1971 onwards

Note: All results taken from http://www.witcham.org.uk/_sgg/m1m6s6_1.htm
WPSCYearOpen WinnerRunner UpLady WinnerLady runner upJunior winnerJunior runner up
1st WPSC1971Dennis Minett------
2nd WPSC1972Dennis Minett------
3rd WPSC1973Dennis Minett------
4th WPSC1974Peter CzarnobajDennis Minett-----
5 th WPSC1975Mike Curzon------
6 th WPSC1976Howard Whetstone------
7 th WPSC1977Mike Fordham------
8 th WPSC1978Mike Fordham------
9 th WPSC1979Neville Burniston------
10 th WPSC1980Robert Norman------
11 th WPSC1981Mike Fordham------
12 th WPSC1982Robert Norman-Sandra Forham----
13 th WPSC1983Mike Fordham-Helen Trent----
14 th WPSC1984Mike Fordham-Helen Trent----
15 th WPSC1985Mike Fordham-Jenny Danks----
16 th WPSC1986Mike Fordham-Juliet Sole----
17 th WPSC1987Robert Norman-Helen Trent----
18 th WPSC1988John Shippey-Helen Trent----
19 th WPSC1989Neville Burniston-Nicola Dale----
20 th WPSC1990David Trent-Clare Shippey----
21 st WPSC1991Leslie Setchell------
22 nd WPSC1992Mike Fordham------
23 th WPSC1993Leslie Setchell------
24 th WPSC1994George Hollis------
25 th WPSC1995George Hollis------
26 th WPSC1996Dan Sargent ------
27 th WPSC1997Thomas Walker------
28 th WPSC1998Dan Sargent ------
29 th WPSC1999David Hollis------
30 th WPSC2000David Hollis------
31 st WPSC2001David Hollis------
32nd WPSC2002Kiel Prance------
33 rd WPSC2003Danny Miles------
34 th WPSC2004Percy WalkerIain HousdenLaura RutterfordMaureen SamochwalSam CockbainBen Somers-
35 th WPSC2005Ian SabertonIain HousdenSandra AshleyIrene PointerEdward RichardsonLewis Bonney-
36 th WPSC2006Sandra AshleyColin LongSandra AshleySilvana TaylorToby SaundersZark Bonney-
37 th WPSC2007George HollisAlistair BerrySandra AshleyEmma WoodJoshua CarterAlfie Ball-
38 th WPSC2008George HollisNathan ParrattPat WillarsSophie JanacekRoland DickinsonMatthew Wakeham-
39th WPSC2009Jim CollinsIan AshmeadeJulie BissmireHelen PhillipsDaniel MenradAmelia Sparks-Shepherd-
40 th WPSC2010Ian AshmeadeChris HughesJulie BissmireHelen PhillipsOliver GaffanCharlie Cox-
41st WPSC2011Ian AshmeadeJim CollinsEmma WatsonLinda SpencerCharlie CoxAlfie Gillings-
42nd WPSC2012Rob BreslerJim CollinsJulie BissmireTina PullenCallum BogunovicAlfie Gillings-
43 rd WPSC2013Rob BreslerToby BushHelen PhillipsEmma WatsonMadeleine BreslerCallum Bogunovic-
44 th WPSC2014Rob BreslerVictor KronigMichelle BerryRachel CrossMartha CollinsKieran Bogunovic-
45 th WPSC2015Jim CollinsAllistair BerryMichelle BerryAimi BreslerMarcus BreslerRylee Gulliver-
46th WPSC2016Jim CollinsRob BreslerMichelle BerrySonija RomanovaCharlotte CollinsMartha Collins-
47th WPSC2017Jim CollinsIan AshmeadeMichelle BerryMartha CollinsMartha CollinsMadeline Bresler-
48th WPSC2018Ian AshmeadeJim CollinsSally Redman-DaviesMichelle BerryMartha CollinsHenry Crook-
49th WPSC2019Ian AshmeadeRob BreslerSally Redman-DaviesMadeline BreslerMartha CollinsHenry Crook-

Roll of Honour (Multiple World Champions)

Mike Fordham 8, George Hollis 4, Helen Trent 4, Jim Collins 4, Michelle Berry 4, Sandra Ashley 4, Ian Ashmeade 4, Martha Collins 4, David Hollis 3, Julie Bissmire 3, Rob Bresler 3, Robert Norman 3, Dennis Minett 3, Dan Sargent 2, Leslie Setchell 2, Neville Burniston 2, Sally Redman-Davies 2.