gurn

{{About|distorted facial expressions|the teeth clenching associated with drug use|bruxism}}

A gurn or chuck is a distorted facial expression and a verb to describe the action. A typical gurn involves projecting the lower jaw as far forward and up as possible and covering the upper lip with the lower lip.{{Cite web|url=https://www.topendsports.com/sport/unusual/gurning.htm|title=About Gurning Sport|website=www.topendsports.com}}

The English Dialect Dictionary, compiled by Joseph Wright, defines the word gurn as "to snarl as a dog; to look savage; to distort the countenance," while the Oxford English Dictionary suggests the derivation may originally be Scottish, related to grin. In Northern Ireland, the verb to gurn means "to cry", and crying is often referred to as "gurnin'". Originally the Scottish dialectical usage refers to a person who is complaining. The term gurn may also refer to an involuntary facial muscular contortion experienced as a side-effect of MDMA consumption.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/why-you-gurn-when-you-take-mdma-ecstasy/|title=Why You Gurn When You Take MDMA|first=David|last=Hillier|date=August 25, 2016|access-date=10 December 2018|archive-date=10 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210202739/https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/zn8n5x/why-you-gurn-when-you-take-mdma-ecstasy|url-status=live}}

Gurning contests

Gurning contests are a rural English tradition. They are held regularly in some villages, with contestants traditionally framing their faces through a horse collar—known as "gurnin' through a braffin".{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/451253.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=Ugly mugs gather at gurning contest | date=18 September 1999 | archive-date=1 March 2009 | access-date=8 December 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301234111/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/451253.stm | url-status=live }}

The World Gurning Championship takes place annually at the Egremont Crab Fair.{{cite book|title=Guide to Traditional Customs of Britain|author=Brian Shuel|publisher=National Trust|year=1985|ISBN=0-86350-051-X}} The fair dates back to 1267, when King Henry III granted it a Royal Charter.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1545231.stm |title=Gurners go for gold |publisher=BBC News |date=15 September 2001 |archive-date=15 March 2009 |access-date=22 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315022745/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1545231.stm |url-status=live }} The origins of the gurning competition itself are unclear, and it may not be so old, although it was described as an ancient tradition by local newspaper The Cumberland Paquet in 1852.{{cite web |url=http://www.egremontcrabfair.com/history.html |title=History |publisher=Egremont Crab Fair |access-date=28 March 2010 |archive-date=20 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820071334/http://www.egremontcrabfair.com/history.html |url-status=live }}

Those with the greatest gurn capabilities are often those with no teeth, as this provides greater room to move the jaw further up. In some cases, the elderly or otherwise toothless can be capable of gurns covering the entire nose.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Peter Jackman became England's best-known gurner, winning the world championship four times, beginning in 1998 with a face called the "Bela Lugosi". He made numerous TV appearances, including an appearance on They Think It's All Over.{{cite news |author=Andrea Thompson |url=http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/gurn-but-not-forgotten-1.474837|title=Gurn but not forgotten|newspaper=News & Star |date=18 September 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322012617/http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/gurn-but-not-forgotten-1.474837 |archive-date=22 March 2012 }} He had his teeth removed in 2000 to make his features easier to manoeuvre.{{Cite web |last=Pearse |first=Will |date=2018-05-02 |title=Inside the unusual sport of gurning |url=https://sportsgazette.co.uk/inside-the-unusual-sport-of-gurning/ |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=Sports Gazette |language=en-US |archive-date=22 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240722214612/https://sportsgazette.co.uk/inside-the-unusual-sport-of-gurning/ |url-status=live }}

The only male gurner to win the world title 15 times is Tommy Mattinson (UK), who took the top prize at the World Gurning Championship in 1986–87 and then 10 times between 1999 and 2010.{{cite web|title=Tommy Mattinson retains Egremont Crab Fair gurning crown|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-24195149|publisher=BBC News|date=22 September 2013|access-date=24 September 2013|archive-date=25 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925063649/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-24195149|url-status=live}}

Anne Woods won the women's world title 28 times.{{cite news|author=Marcus Williamson|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/anne-woods-winner-of-the-womens-world-gurning-title-at-the-egremont-crab-fair-in-cumbria-a-record-28-times-10153298.html|title=Anne Woods: Winner of the women's world gurning title at the Egremont Crab Fair in Cumbria a record 28 times|date=2 April 2015|newspaper=The Independent|archive-date=11 April 2015|access-date=2 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411062618/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/anne-woods-winner-of-the-womens-world-gurning-title-at-the-egremont-crab-fair-in-cumbria-a-record-28-times-10153298.html|url-status=live}}

References

External links

[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/3670504.stm BBC: In Pictures – World Gurning Championship]
[http://edgarcamacho.com/gurning/entries.html First Worldwide Annual ABSFG Gurning Contest]
[http://edgarcamacho.com/gurning/secondentries.html Second (Almost Annual) Worldwide Gurning Contest]
[http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/dedication/gurning-world-championships-male-most-wins Guinness World Records]

Category:Culture in Cumbria

Category:Facial expressions