World Nettle Eating Championship
Competitors eat as many raw stinging nettles as possible in one hour. The leaves are forked into the mouth, rolled with the tongue, and swallowed whole. Points are deducted for flinching. The current record is over 70 feet of nettle stalks. Rinsing your mouth with cider between stalks helps (they say).
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Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling
Contestants chase a 9lb wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down the near-vertical 200-yard Cooper's Hill. The first person over the finish line at the bottom wins the cheese. Expect broken ankles, bruises, and paramedics. This is the undisputed king of British absurdity.
competitionWorld Shin Kicking Championships
Part of the Cotswold Olimpicks, competitors stuff straw down their trousers and kick each other's shins until one falls over. It sounds brutal because it is. The event dates back to the 17th century. The winner is the one left standing — or limping — the longest.
foodWorld Black Pudding Throwing Championship
Competitors throw black puddings at a stack of Yorkshire puddings balanced on a 20-foot plinth. The aim is to knock the pile off. Black puddings are wrapped in tights to hold them together. The winner in 2023 threw 17.8 metres. Lancashire versus Yorkshire — the pudding wars continue.