Pictured: Bearded wonders gather for the hairiest contest in the world

By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 7:40 PM on 25th May 2009

There was a hairy moment or two at the weekend as the biennial World Beard and Moustache Competition got underway.  

After a few bristly rounds, David Traver from Anchorage, Alaska, was crowned the victor for his stunning woven beard and down-turned moustache.

The prize beard measures over 20 inches long and was cultivated over a period of two-and-a-half years, before being plaited into the shape of a snowshoe.

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Hair-raising: Beard-growers from across the globe gathered to show off their facial furniture at the biennial World Beard and Moustache Competition

It won Traver a commemorative gold pan and a salmon fishing trip.

It was a winning year all round for the American hosts with second place going to Benjamin Juergens from Los Angeles, for his Imperial Partial Beard, made up of a regal-looking moustache and goatie.

Winning by a whisker: David Traver of Anchorage won first place in the contest

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Furry faces: Competition winners take centre stage in Anchorage, Alaska 

Facial hair in all forms, from the immense woolly mane of Albert Schmid from Team Switzerland, to the vast lip antlers of Memili Ristioglu from Istanbul, Turkey, was on show at the event in Anchorage, Alaska.

Phil Olsen, founder and captain of Beard Team USA said: 'It was a great year for beards. The competition was stiff.'  

Almost 300 of the beard and moustache elite gathered from over 11 countries for the ninth WBMC competition, which featured a variety of categories from the delicate Dali moustache to side-burned mutton chops to the outrageous full beard freestyle.

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Pruned to perfection: Many of the beards were groomed into amusing styles - and these looked like they might take an eye out

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Stately: British contender Ted Sedman (centre) twirls his moustache

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Follically blessed: These bushy beards are some of the best

Keith Haubrich won first place in the 'freestyle moustache' round for an asymmetrical creation of spikes and loops.

Loopier still was Willi Chevalier of Sigmaringen, Germany, who took the 'partial beard freestyle' category for the eighth time with his 'facial hair pretzel.'  

Other teams included the newly formed Australian Bushrangers, and London's famous Handlebar Club.  

The last competition was held in Brighton in 2007 and was won by the bewhiskered Elmar Weisser from Brigachtal, Germany, for his hairy portrayal of Tower Bridge.

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Team Germany: Lutz Giasa, left, and Karl-Heinz Hiller, both of Berlin, flew themselves and their facial hair to Anchorage

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Father Christmas style: Tim Slade, left, seems proud of his Santa-like beard while, right, Bob Gengler would give Harry Potter character Rebeus Hagrid a run for his money with his brown bushy look

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Snack break: Dick Lacey, left, and Jake Craig, right, both of London grab a sandwich ahead of the beardy parade

Elmar, from the ever-dominant German Swabian Beard Club also stole the show in Berlin 2005 for his furry Brandenburg Gate.  

The 18 whiskered winners will return home with trophies but all proceeds go to charity because, in the world of competitive facial hair, honour is the only reward.  

Judging is not based entirely on technical merit, as dapper clothing and a gentlemanly attitude are also revered.

While one beard might be technically superior, it's the ones that move the judges' spirit that triumph.

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Lustrous line-up: Almost 300 contestants strutted their fuzz during the event