France holds first beard Championship in Paris

Richard Palatchi, who has grown his beard out for three and a half years, won the audacious beard category, beating three other men in a free-style facial hair category. He said the only preparation he made was to get a quick trim at a barber shop on Saturday morning.

Julien Voeltzel won in the natural and over 20cm-long beard category, while Javor Mujicic won the Garibaldi beard category.

Denis Pierre Cariou was crowned the Best in Show category, while Yohann Caton won the Verdi Beard category.

200 spectators were present at the championship, a surprisingly large turnout according to the organisers who hope to expand the competition next year.