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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 building of a modern Village Hall by the headmaster of the village school, John I. Tyson (1925–2002). (The school is long since closed, and children from Witcham now go to primary school in nearby Mepal.)
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History
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 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 2011, Ian Ashmeade became the 2011 and 41st World Pea Shooting Champion. He beat George Hollis, a four-time World Champion, in the semifinal, and 2009 champion Jim Collins in the final.
In 2011, Emma Watson became the Ladies' World Pea Shooting Champion the first time she picked up a pea shooter.
In 2012, Rob Bresler defeated the 2010 and 2011 champion, Ian Ashmeade, in the quarterfinals. He went on to win again in 2013 and 2014.
At the 46th World Peashooting championships, held in July 2016, 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.
World Champion Ian Ashmeade in 2010