Gravy wrestlers clash as 1,500 litres of sauce is poured into the ring
The World Gravy Wrestling Championships, which began in 2007, aims to raise money for East Lancashire Hospice and features wrestlers in fancy dress battling in a ring filled with 1,500 litres of gravy
SWNAgravy - by Faye Mayern Huge crowds turned out today (31/08) to watch the famous World Gravy Wrestling Championships.
The international event, which began in 2007, took place at the Bacup Cricket Club in Bacup, Lancs.
Around 1,500 litres of gravy is poured into a ring - before contestants in fancy dress enter to do battle in two-minute bouts.
Andrew Holt is in charge of making the gravy which is pumped into the ring after each fight.
He makes the gravy in his black pudding factory, The Real Lancashire Black Pudding Company from his grandma's recipe.
He said: "We have to make three types so that we can ensure the consistency is the same for all competitors. This includes thin and slippy, thick and gooey, and extra thick.
"The gravy used during the event is a combination of all three, yet we top it up with some of each depending on what the viscosity changes too and what we think it needs.
"We transport it over in big barrels to the pub. We make around 1,500 litres which is enough to have on 15,000 Sunday roasts."
The final winners of the tournament will be decided by a panel of four experienced judges, who will focus on wrestling skills and fancy dress costumes.
They also look out for who got the crowd going the most.
Pictures from the competition show the wrestlers jumping on top of each other, while they slowly get coated in gravy.
The hilarious event started in 2007 and was featured in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2019.
The event aims to raise money for East Lancashire Hospice but the wrestlers can also raise funds for their own chosen charity.