13 June 2023 , 10:23
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A man who was left wheelchair-bound for months after a hit-and-run incident managed to grow one of the world's best beards during his recovery.
Mick Wallage from Ripley, Derbyshire, was left in need of nine major operations to save his legs after the incident and since he was not able to move for a while, the monotony of daytime television encouraged him to become a three-time mutton chops world champion.
He told Derbyshire Live: "You know what it's like, daytime TV. I was just skipping through and just stumbled across a programme on the TV called Whisker Wars. It was about the competitive bearding circuit in America.
"I saw it and thought: 'I could do that, even if I'm stuck in a wheelchair'. And it just ran amok. I beat the British champion in my first competition. It just snowballed from there really."
He has won a world championship title three times (Chops_Wallage/Twitter)
Mick Wallage has one of the world's best beards (Chops_Wallage/Twitter)After having a conversation with British Beard Club president David Dade, Mr Wallage said he got the motivation to start growing his beard and now he says he has "no other hobbies".
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The champion spends an hour every day rinsing, combing, pruning and pampering it with balms and oils.
Mr Wallage entered his first World Championships in Stuttgart in 2013, finishing eighth in his category.
He finished sixth two years later in the bi-annual event, before claiming his first top spot in Austin, Texas in 2017.
He says he did not expect to win again two years later in Antwerp. And a hat-trick of victories was the stuff only dreams were made of, says Mick, when he flew to Burghausen in Germany this weekend to put his beard on the line once again against the "creme of the creme" beard owners who had paid their €40 (£35) entry fee.
"I honestly didn't think I was going to retain it this time," he explains. "The competition is so stiff. I'm over the moon. Blown away. I'm just looking forward to number four now."
The icing on the cake this year was his scores. Judged in a similar way to a beauty pageant, the competitors are invited on stage before being called out individually for assessment on seven different points, including naturalness, styling and condition.
"It's like Crufts but for guys with beards," says Mick. To qualify for mutton chops, the WBMA regulations say that the beard must have a 4.5cm hairless strip underneath the bottom lip.
Mick met the criteria perfectly for every single point and scored a perfect 70/70 to take home his third consecutive title. It bettered his 69.5 performance in Antwerp, where he dropped just half a point.
"I cried a bit on stage if I'm honest with you," says the 62-year-old. "It made me really happy. This competition is number one; the ultimate, which is why I was so impressed. It's really, really tight at this level. They're judging it down to the nth degree; to single hairs that are out of place."
A former bodybuilder, Mick's used to being on stage. But these days, he adopts the persona of the portly English cartoon character John Bull, which helped him regain confidence after he put on weight post-accident.
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Sponsored by beard care brand Mad Viking, who help subsidise the costs of travelling around the world to compete, and supported by his wife wherever he goes, beard really is life for Mick.
There's no money involved for victors at the World Championships, either - but the medal, certificate and bragging rights are enough, says Mr Wallage, who has founded his own beard club since his obsession began.
Based near his hometown, "Central Beardsmen" also hosts their own annual competition in Derbyshire, which attracts competitors from all over Europe. And, just like at the World Championships and the vast majority of beard events, there's no monetary prize for victors - and any profit made goes to charity.
"The charity work is my main focus now," says Mick. "When I started out, I always said I wanted to be a world champion. I've done that now. It's something I'm struggling to come to terms with!
"Everyone keeps calling me a bearded legend and all sorts. I don't see it. I'm just some bloke who's got a big beard."