It was a night of champions at Egremont Crab Fair on Saturday, as current World Champion male and female gurners Adrian Zivelonghi and Claire Spedding retained their titles for another year.

Egremont woman Claire, 31, had further cause to celebrate as her daughter, nine-year-old Georgia Lister, followed in the family tradition and achieved the junior champion gurner trophy.

Winning the women's gurning title for the fourth time in a row, but five times in total, Claire paid tribute to 28 times winner Anne Woods when she received the trophy saying: “I’d like to keep it in Egremont for Anne.”

She said: “I’m ecstatic, especially for my daughter winning, but I am delighted to be champion and keep it in Egremont.”

Georgia had previously won in 2016 and came third last year and said: “I’m proud of myself.”

Claire and Georgia both say that they don’t practice for the event and will enter again next year. Second place in the women’s section went to Tiree Dawson and third place was awarded to Emma Powell from London.

Eight children made it through the junior gurning heats to compete and last year’s champion, Lexie Park of Egremont, was awarded second place.

Twenty five people took part in the men’s gurning, where the title was retained by reigning champion Adrian Zivelonghi, 51, who had travelled to Egremont from Coventry with five supporters.

Winning on Saturday made it three-in-a-row for modest Adrian, who said: “I’m ecstatic, but I think there are better gurners than me in the world. I can’t believe it. I feel privileged and blessed to come back and be a part of the culture and to be made to feel at home by these nice people. I will be coming back next year. I’m not really athletic, so being a champion gurner’s more my thing.”

Second place in the men’s event was veteran Gordon Blacklock, from Whitehaven and third was Mike Bailey.

A big miss was one of the world’s greatest gurners, Aspatria man Tommy Mattinson, who came second last year.

People packed out the market hall eager to see the historic competition, this included television crews from the BBC, Germany and London filming for Youtube.

The evening began with a minutes silence in respect for honorary life member and previous president Alan Kirkby, who passed away a few days after 60 years of service on the crab fair committee.

The all female judging team of Dot Swinburne, Alison Mower and Sara Morris from Egremont, Jackie O’Reilly from Silloth and, Crab Fair Queen, 13 year old Demileigh Nichol were all novices.

Neil Brady won the horn blowing and hunting song categories.

The adult gurning competitions attracted international interest, with entrants from USA, Germany, and Mexico among those keen to take part.

Competitors from the UK included people from Glasgow, London, Manchester, Newark, Coventry, Yorkshire and Wales as well as those closer to home in Cumbria from Bigrigg, Cleator, Cleator Moor, Frizington, Workington, Whitehaven and Egremont.

Also taking part in the men’s event was CBBC presenters Ed Petrie and Inel Tomlinson, who were filming for ‘All Over The Place’.

Speaking to Inel before he took part he said: “I think it’s absolutely fantastic here, not just for the adults but all the children are having fun as well. I am looking forward to taking part, but I’ve seen a lot of professional gurners today, some taking their teeth out too, I don’t think I can compete with that.”

One of the entrants was Vicky Pater, a teaching assistant from Orgill Primary School in Egremont. The school had borrowed the braffin and let all the pupils and staff attempt their best gurning face, which was put on the school's facebook page. Vicky received the most likes, so was entered into the competition, supported by her colleagues.