World Toe Wrestling Championships
The Bentley Brook Inn in Derbyshire hosts the Ben & Jerry's World Toe Wrestling Championship - a feast of foot foolery, bad wrestling outfits and toeriffically treacherous puns. All proceeds from the event go to the Derbyshire charity When You Wish Upon a Star.
Contestants sit opposite each other on the "Toedium" and, locking big toes, place their feet on a small wooden frame, imaginatively termed the "Toesrack". At the cry of "Toedown" they wrestle both right and left feet, in a straight knockout competition with the winner being the person who pushes his opponent's foot to the bookend on the side of the frame. It's a game of theatrics, awesome ankle power and, of course, plenty of ale and ice cream - courtesy of the sponsors - for the audience.
Conceived in the 1976 by a bunch of Ye Olde Royal Oak Inn locals, in nearby Wetton, imagine their consternation when a Canadian walked off with the crown in 1977! Shocked, the toe wrestlers fell dormant until landlord George Burgess rediscovered the rules in 1990 and resurrected the noble sport.
Competition is fierce, dominated by colourfully-named characters such as Alan "Nasty" Nash (five times reigning champion, who managed to win with an undisclosed broken foot in 2000) or Ian "The Destroyer" Davies (winner 1998). It's not a men-only occasion, with Destroyer's wife, Karen "Kamikaze" Davies, reigning champion of the women's event for four years, (1999-2002).
If you fancy taking part, be sure to give your feet a good clean first or you won't get further than the referee's inspection. Application forms are available from sponsor Ben & Jerry's website.
Related Information
| Venue Information: | Bentley Brook Inn |
|---|---|
| Full Name: | Bentley Brook Inn,Fenny Bentley,England |
| Dating its history back at least 700 years, to when it was a medieval farmhouse and fortified manor house, the building became home in the late 14th-century to yeoman farmer and Lord of the Manor, Thomas Beresford (who fought, with Henry V at Agincourt) and his wife Agnes. Residential up to the 20th century, it eventually became a restaurant in 1954. A few owners later the Allingham family bought it in 1977 and created from the much-loved pub, Fenny's Restaurant but also the on-site craft brewery, Leatherbritches. | |
| Address: | DE6 1LF |
| Directions: | On the A515 north of Ashbourne on the way to Buxton, at the junction with the B3036 (which heads north-east to Bakewell and Chesterfield). |
| Contact Details: | Bentley Brook Inn |
| Email: | all@bentleybrookinn.co.uk |
| Phone: | +44 (0) 1335 350278 |
| Fax: | +44 (0) 1335 350422 |
| Other Information: | Bentley Brook Inn |
| Website: | Bentley Brook Inn Website |
| Name: | Derby Tourist Office |
|---|---|
| Location: | Derby |
| Address: | Tourist Information Centre, Assembly Rooms, Market Place, Derby DE1 3AH |
| Email: | tourism@derby.gov.uk |
| Phone: | +44 (0) 1332 255802 |
| Fax: | +44 (0) 1332 256137 |
| Name: | British Tourist Authority |
| Location: | United Kingdom |
| Address: | Thames Tower, Black's Road, Hammersmith, London W6 9EL |
| Phone: | +44 (0) 20 8846 9000 |
| Fax: | +44 (0) 20 8563 0302 |
| Name: | The National Trust |
| Location: | United Kingdom |
| Email: | enquiries@ntrust.org.uk |
| Phone: | +44 (0) 20 8315 1111 |
| Fax: | +44 (0) 20 8466 6824 |
