'It's like the 100m sprint of puzzling, it gets faster and faster'

From idyllic rural scenes to bespoke pet designs, jigsaw puzzles are a perfect way to while away a lazy day – but for more than 200 people in Bradford this weekend, it was all about speed.

The UK's first federation-approved puzzling championships took place on Saturday, with competitors from across the globe battling to complete 500-piece puzzles as quickly as possible.

The event at Woodhouse Grove School in Apperley Bridge, was hosted by the UK Jigsaw Puzzle Association – with two events, a solo event and a pairs competition.

The solo round was won by Emma Quirke, from Kerry, in Ireland, in a time of 41 minutes and 55 seconds.

Speaking afterwards she said she had been doing jigsaws her whole life, but only started speed puzzling last year.

"I didn't expect to win. You forget about everything, and you're just in the puzzle, I didn't notice anyone else in the room at all," she said.

"I didn't really look at the box, I just made all the little pieces I could find and then try to put them together. It's my first time winning so I'm really excited."

The UK Jigsaw Puzzle Association was set up by Anneka Thompson from Harrogate, she said while there had been puzzling championships in the UK before, this was the first event in line with the rules of the world federation.

"It will keep growing. We've had people travel over from Germany, Ireland and Australia today to compete, so it's exciting," she said.

Like many people taking part in the event, Ms Thompson began speed puzzling in lockdown.

"I've puzzled my whole life as a hobby and then during lockdown people would say 'oh you've done that quickly' and I would say 'oh, that's just how I do them, is that quick?'

"I'm a pretty competitive person, so I Googled 'how fast do people do puzzles? and through that search I found the world championships in Spain and realised I was not far off.

"I was getting faster and faster and I've probably reached my peak now, so I'm on the organisational side rather than competing for a win," she said.

You do not have to be British to compete, but you do need a UK passport to win the £500 prize for first place.

As well as the solo competition, the event included a pairs race, which was won by champion puzzler Sarah Mills and partner Claire Heyes, from Norwich, in 30 minutes and 30 seconds.

Also taking part in the event were mother and daughter Janae and Abigail Hills.

They travelled from the Isle of Wight, setting off at 04:00 BST on Friday.

Abigail, 22, said she got into competitive puzzling after watching videos on YouTube.

"I didn't know if there was a way to do them really fast and when I found out there was we decided to do it because it looked really fun. It looked like the perfect sport.

"I did puzzles on and off as a child, but I only got into puzzling last year. At one point I was doing 1,000 pieces a day and I was getting really fast.

"And then I thought we should try to do speed puzzling."

Abigail, who is autistic, said she finds puzzling a huge help with her anxiety.

"I find it really relaxing, it gives me something to do with my hands," she said.

"I get really stressed and it helps me manage my stress and anxiety. It's almost like I forget my anxiety when I'm puzzling."

Janae, 48, is the "facilitator" of the pair, and spends much of the time sorting the pieces for Abigail to complete.

Abigail's sister, who is an artist, designed them special T shirts for the event, saying 'Puzzle Sandwiches'.

"I'm hoping she will design puzzles one day," says Abigail.

"Our favourite puzzle artist is Colin Thompson. He does different bookshelves with people and creatures, and as you build the world's reveal themselves."

Saturday's competition puzzles were designed by Georgia Breeze-Frost in the solo event, and Stuart Matthews in the pairs.

Ms Breeze-Frost, from Bude, in Cornwall, has worked with Ravensburger – which sponsored the event and provided puzzles – on designs before.

She said: "It was exciting to be chosen for a competition, it was a bit of a pinch-me moment. It was something I never thought would happen."

Her design of teapots and crockery was chosen because of its British theme and the inclusion of Yorkshire Tea.

She said: "I've always been interested in drawing crockery and adding my designs and patterns on to them. It was about a collection, bringing them together and making them as interesting as possible."

It was Mr Matthews' first time ever designing a puzzle, and "almost the first time I've put art work out," he said.

"I've done art for friends and family and then a friend who works for Ravensburger suggest I send it in and they asked me to have a go at this.

"I puzzle occasionally but I'm certainly not to the level these guys are, this is another thing I've never experienced. It's really intense."

Ms Thompson says the puzzlers continue to amaze her, getting faster every year.

"Last year's winner of worlds did it in 35 minutes. You think eventually they will reach a point where they can't do it any faster but people do – it's like the 100m sprint in the Olympics, they find a way."

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