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Die Wêreld Sous Stoei Kompetisie

───   13:40 Thu, 28 Aug 2014

Die Wêreld Sous Stoei Kompetisie | News Article

Gravy loving participants wore fancy dress to wrestle outside a Lancashire pub with the winner decided by whoever entertained the audience the most

It took one pub, twenty colourful contestants and 1,500 litres of thick, sticky gravy.

Hundreds of people gathered in the village of Stacksteads, Lancashire, for the 2014 World Gravy Wrestling Championships.

The 14 men and six women transformed into their fighting alter-egos to compete at the Rose n Bowl pub, all in the name of charity, reports the Manchester Evening News.

 
 
 Families and friends huddled around a plastic-lined pool in August temperatures of 9C (49F) to watch fancy-dressed characters such as “The Beast” and “Big Bob the Bouncing Ballerina” grapple in warm, gloopy meat sauce.

Now in its eighth year, the event raises around £3,000 annually for East Lancashire Hospice and attracts people from across the north west.

Despite the chilly winds and threatening clouds above, the pub and grounds were filled with children, parents and the wrestlers’ supporters.

PA Gravy Wrestling
It's literally all gravy: Ben Hanson and Reece Dewhurst stoop in the gloop

Alongside the main arena stood a ginger beer tent and bouncy castle, while a charity cake sale took place inside the pub.

Every minute of the action was also streamed live onto television screens behind the bar.

Organisers spent hours on Sunday, one day in advance, preparing the huge quantity of gravy needed to fill the ring.

They poured 1,000 litres of the still warm meaty sauce into the pool to start with, then topped up with another 500 litres throughout the tournament.

PA Gravy Wrestling
Saucy smile: The event took place at the Rose n Bowl, Stacksteads in Lancashire

Each match lasted two minutes, with the winner being the one who most entertained the audience.

Fourteen wrestlers battled it out for the men’s title, while six women competed for their own crown.

Denise Gee, event fundraiser for East Lancashire Hospice, said: “This all started off as a bit of fun, eight years ago, but it’s become the World Gravy Wrestling Championships and it’s now really well supported.

It raises a substantial amount for patient care - around £3,000 to £3,500 each year. It’s a great day out and everyone has fun, but at the same time they raise money for the hospice.”

PA Gravy Wrestling
Hold me tight: Joel Hicks lifts up Brett Holt during a hotly contested bout

A team from East Lancashire Hospice were on hand collecting funds at the Rose n Bowl, but Denise also took part in the wrestling as The Secret Revealed Santa.

She added: “From personal experience, I can tell you it’s pretty sticky!”

As part of the fundraiser, the crowds were offered a chance to take part in a 'gravy bucket challenge' - an alternative to the incredibly popular ice bucket challenge .
 
 
- mirror.co.uk
 

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