Nothing brings a community together like a regular event where people can gather together, enjoy the food and drinks being sold, and be entertained by all the events that are happening.
And as is true of most small-town events, the centerpiece of the attraction is some sort of wrestling match.
The tried-and-true mud wrestling competition is a staple for community events like these (especially women’s mud wrestling) but one town in Lancashire put a new spin on this by holding wrestling events with gravy instead of mud.
Watch the video of the gravy wrestling below.
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Video credit: Rumble
While Lancashire gravy is usually associated with Sunday dinners, contestants in Stacksteads will use this delicious food item to help determine whose wrestling prowess will reign supreme.
Even the referee will get down and dirty along with the contestants. And despite the World Gravy Wrestling Championships being ranked as one of the top ten weirdest “sports” and pastimes, that still didn’t stop hundreds of people from coming over and cheering for their favorite contestant.
Men and women of all ages can participate and the event revels in its casual air with one contestant even dressing as a smurf while others came in as the Mario Brothers. According to the World Gravy Wrestling Championships Facebook page, “Contestants must wrestle in the Gravy for 2 minutes while being scored for audience applause, and various different moves, all this while in fancy dress!”
And while the element of fun is clearly underscored, the hilarious undertaking also has a more noble purpose. Funds raised from the entrance proceeds will go towards supporting the East Lancashire Hospice, which is a rest home. However, participants are also free to raise funds for their own preferred charities.
It’s really a different take when it comes to hosting a “culinary” event. Around 2,000 liters of gravy were supplied courtesy of Andy Holt and Sarah Lusty, of the Real Lancashire Black Pudding Company. The event literally couldn’t have happened without their support.
The local fire brigade also offered their support by washing down the contestant in-between bouts.
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