The 24th British Open Crabbing Championship

24th British Open Crabbing Championship
The sun shone and temperatures soared to the high twenties (that is nearly 80 degrees Farenheit in the old money!) for the 23rd British Open Crabbing Championship at Walberswick.			A record number of people(728) registered to take part in the Championship (584 last year!) however there was plenty of room for all although the popular pitches filled up quickly.
The seaward side of the Dunwich River was quieter and there was space to spread out a bit. This group are close to the up stream limit of the Championship area.			Close beside the footbridge was a popular place as ever and competitors here are clearly old hands with everything needed for a comfortable and enjoyable afternoon's crabbing.
As the tide started to ebb (it was at its highest right at the start of the Championship) it left mud behind which many younger competitors enjoyed as much as the crabbing itself!			The purple sea lavender made a beautiful background to the views across the Dunwich River. Competitors were of all ages and from all over the country but everyone had great fun.
About a hundred yards to seaward beyond the dunes, the lovely sandy beach at Walberswick was busy with families and couples enjoying the mediterranean weather. Who needs the Costas - come to Suffolk. It's nearer and much more fun!			Promptly at 4:30pm the weigh in started with our highly skilled crab-weighers (the most experienced championship crab weighers in the UK live in Walberswick) weighing every crab. This is the third prize winning crab caught by Harriet Smith from Bury St Edmunds.
The prize winning crab shown here was caught by Joseph Baldwin of Botesdale in Suffolk. At 3.5ozs it is a respectable size but nowhere near the record of 7.25ozs set at the first Championship in 1981.			The three winners take the rostrum. Joseph Baldwin (Botesdale,Suffolk) took first place with a crab of 3.5ozs, Miss Taylor-Walker (Sheffield) took second with a crab of 3.25ozs and Harriet Smith (Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk) took third place with a crab of just over 3ozs. Well done everyone!
Imogen Wiltshire (9 yrs old) from Holton proudly displays her crab and her prize.			All three medal winners line up on the rostrum. For the first time two of the medal winners (Jack Foster - 2nd and Guy Foster - 3rd) are brothers.
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