Hair-Raising Beard Show At Brighton UK

LONDON (AFP) - Some of the most stylish fuzzy faces from across the globe gathered in Britain on Saturday to do battle over their beards.

The World Beard and Moustache Championships 2007 saw a wealth of the planet's most bizarre facial hairstyles congregating in Brighton on the southern English coast.

Some 250 competitors from Britain, Germany, the United States and many other countries were on parade on the seafront for the biennial event.

"Everybody has got a smile on their faces. It's a whole day of seeing amazing facial hair," said organiser Steve Parsons of London-based group The Handlebar Club.

LONDON —  One contestant had a mustache twisted into the shape of London's Tower Bridge; others sported bushy beards that would make Grizzly Adams envious. In the end, Beard Team USA nabbed four of the top honors — by a whisker — at the World Beard and Mustache Championships.

About 250 shaggy men from around the world competed Saturday in 17 different classes of facial hair at the competition in Brighton, England.

The event had long been dominated by German beard clubs, but the Americans made a strong showing at this year's competition, taking victories in four categories.

Jack Passion, a 23-year-old from San Francisco, won the highly competitive "Full Natural Beard" competition with his flowing orange fuzz.