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Cambridgeshire World Peashooting Championships held World Peashooting Champion blows away rivals
(about 4 hours later)
Peashooters from across the globe held their collective breaths as they bid for world domination in Cambridgeshire. Peashooters from across the globe were blown away by the defending champion in a tense, hard-fought competition in Cambridgeshire on Saturday.
Rob Bresler, from Haddenham, had a winning score of 44 out of 50 during the final against Toby Bush.
The annual World Peashooting Championships have been taking place in Witcham, near Ely, since 1971.The annual World Peashooting Championships have been taking place in Witcham, near Ely, since 1971.
The tradition was started by local teacher John Tyson after he confiscated numerous blowpipes from his pupils. Bresler said: "I believe I've got a shot at Sports Personality of the Year after what I've just been through."
This year's champion was Rob Bresler, from Ely, who blew Toby Bush into second place. Helen Phillips won the women's title. Sharp-shooting dynasty
'Laser-sighted rifle' The village's peashooting tradition was started by local teacher John Tyson after he confiscated numerous blowpipes from his pupils.
"It's a very serious and skilful sport, and a hard-fought battle," four-time champion Ian Ashmeade, said. Since then it has become an annual event where rivalry is rife and foul play not unheard of.
Stringent rules are followed by competitors, including using only maple or pigeon peas provided on the day. Helen Phillips won the women's title, and Team Easy Rider B were triumphant in the group competition.
Only standard-length blowpipes are allowed, but over the years many people have shifted away from the traditional plastic tube, opting to mould their own from carbon fibre. But Bresler's seven-year-old daughter Madeline's victory in the children's event suggested a dynasty threatens to dominate the sport for many years to come.
"I use a special 'monopod' to help with my balance," Mr Ashmeade said. Bresler said of his distinctive playing garb: "My World War II helmet is not a fashion statement."
"It's actually just a stick from the orchard, and sadly this year it seems to have a bit of woodworm. "It's to protect the back of my head from stray peas blown deliberately in order to distract me during the competition."
"I have got a pea-green laser, though, so I hope that will up my chances of victory." Last year Bresler said he "just rocked up" to take the individual title from Ian Ashmeade.
Mr Ashmeade said an American from a nearby airbase turned up one year with a blowpipe strapped to the butt of a laser-sighted rifle. This year, however, he and his family trained hard, setting up a target in the back garden.
"He wasn't very good, though. He was beaten by a 14-year-old boy with a plastic pipe. His wife took part, his daughter won the junior competition, and his brother and niece also shot for pea immortality.
"He didn't come back again," he said. "There was a huge amount of pressure when I took to the field," Bresler said.
Proceeds from the event go towards the upkeep of the village hall, which Mr Ashmeade said is referred to locally as the "Cathedral of the Pea". "It wasn't exactly like performing in front of the crowds on Henman Hill or Murray Mount, but the 'Bresler Flats' were pretty packed as I walked out."
Bresler, who used a blow pipe with a chin rest, stabilising weights and a laser pointer, said at 38 years old he was "pretty much at the peak" of the sport.
He said: "All the talk has been about Andy Murray winning Wimbledon this year, but he's only done that once, you know.
"I've won this championship twice now. I could well turn out to be the greatest living peashooter in the world."
Proceeds from the event go towards the upkeep of the village hall, known locally as the "Cathedral of the Pea".