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VIDEO: Gravy wrestling returns to East Lancashire
10:54am Wednesday 7th May 2008
By Emma Cruces »
GRAVY wrestling will return to East Lancashire this summer with the Pennine Lancashire Food Festival.
This year's festival begins in August and continues into September when growers, producers, chefs, gourmets - and wrestling contenders - will descend on festival events held across the region.
The two-year-old festival is set to become more popular than ever this year, after being named as one of the top 16 tourist destinations after last year's success.
Events will take place across the six Pennine Lancashire districts of Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale and the Ribble Valley.
The second ever World Gravy Wrestling Championships this year takes place in Bacup, after last year's competition in Darwen became a world-famous event.
Sumo warriors, martial arts specialists and a chef were among competitors at the first international championships, when a wrestling ring was set up in Sainsbury's car park.
This year, new hopefuls will try to follow in the footsteps of the first ever world champions of gravy wrestling; Ian Marsden, Martin Skipper and the mysterious 'Super Roy the Darwen Destroyer' of the Tower Shukokai Karate Club, Darwen.
News of the wrestling event soon gained fame across the world, even gaining coverage in the Bangkok Times.
Shortly afterward, national tourism agencies Visit Britain and Enjoy England named the food festival as one of the UK's top 16 events for summer visitors in 2007.
Event organiser Jacqui Livesey said: "The event combines Lancashire's fantastic food and drink offer with a variety of cultural events, fabulous locations and favourite tourist attractions.
"Last year, the crowds laughed themselves silly at the slippery antics of the competitors in the Gravy Wrestling Championships.
"It really put East Lancashire on the map as worldwide audiences were told that 'the English sense of humour was just a a Brit different' and that Lancashire's food and drink was amazing.
"The event will welcome a vast arrray of growers, producers, chefs as well as culture-vultures and fun-lovers to support the best of the Lancashire food and drink industry."
The 2008 Pennine Lancashire Festival of Food and Culture will begin on August 18 and continue through to September 7.
- Watch our video from last year's gravy wrestling competition by clicking on the link below,
Your Say YourTelegraph
Bill, Burnley says...
12:20pm Wed 7 May 08
Burnley Taxpayer, Burnley says...
1:29pm Wed 7 May 08
Ivor Jestyenot Biggun, Standing at the back dressed stupidly and looking stupid says...
4:13pm Wed 7 May 08
Jay, Looking right into your face! says...
6:25pm Wed 7 May 08
And, really, is it what Lancashire wants to have as a 'claim to fame'.
Come on people there is far more to Lancashire life than this! Why not use that!
As for putting 'East Lancashire on the map?' Which map is that, then? The one with 'avoid at all costs sign' on it? Erm, well, I don't think the more discerning visitor will be wanting to come here because of gravy wrestling! It serves a minority and appeals to minority.
When you think of all the things Lancashire has to offer the visitor. Guess they aren't aiming for the more discerning clientelle, however.
Why not get Simon Callow on the job? As referee? Should be interesting ...
'Britains Got Gravy'. Lacking, shallow, lacking ... lacking consistency, texture ... get off!
You could almost swear it was April Fools Day with this rubbish! Except, the sad fact is, it's not.
For a county that has no much heritage, so much lovely countryside - back to the discerning, cultured visitor, however I guess with that, though - and hillsides. Coastlines. Why not enjoy that before someone takes it all away from us and forces anything Lancastrian - which I do not consider, nor many with common sense, any taste what this is - into a subculture.
Simon Cowell, Sat on a huge pile of cash! says...
8:23pm Wed 7 May 08
K, Rossendale says...
8:43pm Wed 7 May 08
?, Darwen says...
9:36pm Wed 7 May 08
Manners, Darwen says...
10:47pm Wed 7 May 08
Zesh, says...
8:50am Thu 8 May 08
Burnley Taxpayer wrote:Hey 'Burnley Taxpayer',
From Darwen to Bacup - says it all doesn't it! Definitely the shallow end of the gene pool!
are you the same guy how was boring everyone on the footy pages being all self righteous about people making daft comments?
Ha ha, you jumped up pompous hypocrite!
Dave, Nelson, says...
5:28pm Thu 8 May 08
?, Darwen says...
7:12pm Thu 8 May 08
Dave, Nelson wrote:You are not well, clearly....get the gravy out - time for some family fun....have a word.
You guys need to lighten up! Its a fun day out for all the family.
danny, Accy says...
11:38pm Thu 8 May 08
"Accrington Stanley, who are they?"
jon lowe, bacup says...
10:27pm Tue 27 May 08
JON LOWE NEVER MIND IN YOUR FACE UP YOURS
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SPLASH! Lancashire Telegraph reporter Sally Henfield (right) is coated in gravy as she battles with Louise Birchall at last year's event
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Danny, Church says...
12:11pm Wed 7 May 08
I so wanna have a go at that Gravy Wrestling. First heard about it when i was living in Yorkshire. But erm...i dont think im allowed to participate.
Ah well, i'll just have to nip to Asda and buy loads of gravy granuals and have a rumble with arr missus lol