Gravy rivals make big splash

THEY’VE got the moves, they’ve got the costumes, they’ve got the crowds and they’ve got the browning.

That can only mean one thing – gravy wrestling is back for another year.

The annual World Gravy Wrestling Championships took place at The Rose ‘N’ Bowl pub in Stacksteads, with the contestants giving it their all in a pool containing gallons of Lancashire gravy.

The popular event was started 10 years ago, and is still going strong – as is the gravy.

Contestants must wrestle for two minutes and points are awarded for fancy dress, comedy effect, entertainment... oh, and wrestling ability. As the contestants were told before getting in the ring, ‘ gravy wrestling is about fun, fun, fun’.

Costumes on the day included a butcher, a bride, a policewoman, a chef, and ‘Conor McGravy’ - while contestants included Tronald Dump, The Oxo Fox, Barry Bovril and The Potato Masher, all cheered on by hundreds of fans around the ring.

The winners, one male and one female, walk away with a World Gravy Wrestling Championships trophy, which their name is engravy-ed on and which they get to keep for a year.

It’s certainly a mucky business, but firefighters are on hand to hose the contestants down between rounds, and it’s all in a good cause with cash raised for the East Lancashire Hospice and competitors’ nominated charities.

Joel Hicks, aka ‘ The Butcher’, travelled from Leicestershire and has been taking part since the event first started. He has been crowned world champion an impressive four times.

The 38- year- old uses the event to raise money for the foundation he runs, Always With a Smile, which ‘ aims to make the world a happier place and put a smile on people’s faces’.

He said: “This event is right up our street. It’s good fun – it’s a great day for the whole family and a good way to spend the bank holiday.”

Dave O’Connor, 49, aka The Golden Roast Rebellion was taking part for the fourth time and raising money for the Pc Nicola Hughes Memorial Fund.

He said: “I am quite nervous before going into the ring – the first time I was bricking it. Some people do get quite competitive, and the gravy gets all in your eyes and your ears, but it’s all in a good cause.”

To make a donation to East Lancashire Hospice visit justgiving.com/ fundraising/ gravywrestling, or to find out more visit worldgravywrestling. com.