Given the current (as this is being written) controversy and flack
regarding Ben Affleck assuming the role of the new Batman, perhaps this
activity could be an opportunity to get away from it all, for the actor or anybody reading this. I mean,
until the cape flies, Affleck could take to Lancanshire, England and keep in
shape by gravy wrestling.
So let’s say that you’re
looking for a place to visit within the next 24 hours that offers an interesting
and unusual (accent on the unusual) fun diversion. A geographical location that is off the beaten
path so to speak in addition to participating in a sport offering a competitive
element.
Welcome to the home of Gravy
Wrestling.
You read it right: gravy
wrestling. The way it works is that competitors will wrestle in gravy for 2
minutes with the viewing audience deciding the winner by their applause. Now in
its 5th year, for those interested in participating - and who wouldn’t
be - the gravy match will be held on Monday, August 26, 2013, at the Rose n Bowl
in Stackstead starting at 11:30 a.m.
According to the blurb on www.worldgravywrestling.com, it’s
classified as a culinary competition. Thinking further about the classification,
the fact that gravy is the main focus and it is used in cooking, might place
it in the culinary classification. The competition is open to both men and women.
The premise is simple in that
competitors must (if they want to win) wrestle in a 16-foot pool of Lancashire
Gravy with technique taken into account. Not sure the consistency of Lancashire
Gravy, in spite of a cyber search to find how it’s made, which means there’s no
way of knowing whether contestants will be slipping and sliding in thick or
thin gravy. Then again and given the premise, does it matter?
Entry forms can be found on
the world gravy wrestling site, above.
A snorkelling challenge
If gravy wrestling isn’t
appealing, consider putting on a mask and other gear for the “world famous”
World Bog Snorkelling Champsionship, which is just around the corner on Sunday,
August 25 and Monday, August 26. The aim of the challenge is to swim two lengths
or 115 metres in a murky, peat-filled trench dug out from the Waen Rhydd Peat
bog, in the quickest time as possible. The fastest snorkeler takes home a cash
prize.
The current world champion,
Richard Addis, swam the bog in 1 minute, 26.5 seconds. As appealing as this sport
sounds, I’ll pass.
An alternative use for a cell
phone
Here’s a sport in which most
of us could, if we wanted to, participate. The World Mobile Phone Throwing Championship
is taking place on Saturday, August 24th, in Savonlinna, Finland. This
leads one – me – to wonder the rationale behind the competition given the
popularity and extensive usage of this important accessory in our lives. Be
that as it may, participants compete by throwing a mobile phone the farthest/furthest
distance within a throwing area designated for this purpose. Participants
stepping out of the area are disqualified.
Judging is made in four
categories that include traditional over-the-shoulder throw for children 12
years of age and under, freestyle with no age limits, original and team
original. According to the information blurb, most phones are acceptable as
long as they don’t weigh more than 220 grams.
Meanwhile, the prize for winning in the world
championships is a new mobile phone since these events are usually
supported by mobile phone recycling organizations that promote the recycling
of phones, and of course, boasting rights for tossing your phone the longest distance.
So Ben Affleck, if you’re
reading this and bemoaning the negative reaction of people regarding your newly
acquired role of Batman, perhaps consider flying over to Finland, escape from
it all and not have to talk to anyone on your cell phone. Or perhaps a good
snorkel in bog would be good for the nerves or a go in gravy. I mean,
what else do you have to do?
