Santa Wars as deposed British world champ fumes

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2005

LONDON (AFP) — The British Father Christmas who lost his Santa of the Year world crown lashed out, citing a suspected campaign to stop him from winning again that has damaged "Santa morale".

Ron Horniblew, 70, has been authorized by the Master Santa in Greenland and is part of the elite international Santa circuit who compete at the Santa Winter Games, where up to 50 Father Christmases compete for the world title.

Estonian accordionist Aare Rebban grabbed the crown "amid dark mutterings of political voting, professional jealousy and backbiting", The Mail on Sunday newspaper said.

At the Games in Gallivare in Swedish Lapland, Santas sled, race reindeer-drawn sleighs, eat porridge -- with a splash on the beard earning instant disqualification -- climb chimneys...