World Pea Shooting Championships

The World Pea Shooting Championship has been held annually since 1971 in the village of Witcham near Ely in Cambridgeshire, England. It was conceived as a fund-raising idea for the Village Hall by the headmaster of the village school, John I. Tyson (1925–2002). In 2003 the Parish Council funded the purchase of the John Tyson Shield on which the 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 USA, 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, etc.

External links

• Telegraph - Pea shooters take aim for world championship glory - 2012
• Witcham village
• 2012 World Pea Shooting Championship countdown.
• Background of the World Championship
• Haddenham Man Retains World -Peashooting Title
• Pictures of the 2011 World Pea Shooting Championship
• A video of the perfect pea's eye
• It's Only Pea Shooting. All you need to know about Pea Shooting in an ebook. a hardbacked paper copy can also be found here on blurb.

The 2012, 2013 and 2014 World Pea Shooting Champion is Rob Bresler.

Bresler defeated the 2010 and 2011 World Pea Shooting Champion Ian Ashmeade in the quarter finals. Bresler met the 2009 World Champion Jim Collins in a final that resulted in a 'sudden death' pea-off.

In 2011 Ian Ashmeade became the 2011 and 41st World Pea Shooting Champion. He beat George Hollis, a previous four-times World Champion and the Champion of Champions in the semi final, only to meet Jim Collins in the final. The result of the 2009 final was reversed and Ian Ashmeade defeated Collins to retain his previous years title.

In 2011, Emma Watson became the Ladies' World Pea Shooting Champion the first time she picked up a pea shooter.

Ian Ashmeade