The world of puzzling took on a new level of intensity in Bradford over the weekend, as over 200 participants from around the world gathered at Woodhouse Grove School to compete in the UK’s first federation-approved puzzling championships. With the goal of completing 500-piece puzzles as quickly as possible, the competitors were fully immersed in the challenge.
Emma Quirke from Kerry, Ireland emerged victorious in the solo competition, finishing the puzzle in an impressive 41 minutes and 55 seconds. Quirke, who had only started speed puzzling recently, was ecstatic about her unexpected win, expressing how the intense focus required during the competition made her oblivious to everything else in the room.
The event was organized by the UK Jigsaw Puzzle Association, founded by Anneka Thompson from Harrogate. Thompson, a long-time puzzle enthusiast herself, saw the popularity of speed puzzling rise during lockdown and decided to bring the competitive aspect to the UK in line with world federation rules. Participants from Germany, Ireland, and Australia added to the international flair of the event.
In addition to the solo competition, the event featured a pairs race, which was won by Sarah Mills and Claire Heyes from Norwich. Mother-daughter duo Abigail and Janae Hills, who traveled from the Isle of Wight, also took part in the competition. Abigail, who finds puzzling to be a relaxing way to manage her anxiety, spoke about the joy and therapeutic benefits she experiences while immersing herself in puzzling challenges
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