Huge crowds gathered to watch the World Gravy Wrestling Championships on bank holiday Monday.

First staged in 2007, the international event saw around 1,500 litres of gravy poured into a ring at Bacup cricket club in Lancashire before contestants fought two-minute bouts in fancy dress.

Winners are chosen by a panel of four judges, who focus on wrestling skills and fancy dress costumes alongside crowd reaction. 

Enough to supply 15,000 Sunday roasts, the gravy is made in The Real Lancashire Black Pudding Company’s factory, owned by Andrew Holt.

Mr Holt, whose gravy recipe was originally his grandmother’s, said the factory made three different thicknesses before combining them in the ring.

He added the thickness was controlled throughout the event to ensure it was the same for all competitors.

‘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 to and what we think it needs.

Competitors in fancy dress fought in the ring at the World Gravy Wrestling Championships

Held in Bacup, Lancashire, the event has been running since 2007 and features a series of two-minute bouts judged by a four-strong panel

Some 1,500 litres of gravy was produced for the event, enough to supply 15,000 Sunday roasts

There are three different thicknesses of gravy made for the event, which are combined and topped up to ensure conditions are the same for all competitors

Competitors were judged on the quality of both their wrestling and fancy dress, as well as the crowd reaction

Among the fancy dress on display were the Grinch and Sacha Baron Cohen character Ali G

Huge crowds gathered at Bacup cricket club to see the gravy-fighting event, which is almost 20 years old

‘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 event aims to raise money for East Lancashire hospice but competitors can also choose to raise money for their own chosen charity.