Weird And Wild British Food Competitions Slideshow

Call me squeamish, but given the choice I'd pick haggis throwingover contests devoted to eatingthe sheep-innards-encased-in-stomach-lining. The stuff's not called offal for nothing.

Then there's the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships in Ramsbottom, in which the oblong object, described as a "Lancashire delicacy made with dried blood," is launched at a stack of the neighboring county's most famous foodstuff, the Yorkshire pudding. For its part, Yorkshire is alleged to have once hosted the Yorkshire Pudding Boat Race, in which pancake batter met yacht varnish to create teacup-shaped vessels that remained watertight for about 49 seconds. Much effort has gone into trying to verify the truth behind this Lilliputian fantasy, but it couldn't be confirmed at press time. However, if you suddenly get the urge to recreate this edible fairy tale, all you need are 50 eggs, four bags of flour, 25 pints of milk, and a really enormous oven.  

Or check out either the World Watercress Eating Championships in May, or Dorset's World Stinging Nettle Eating Championship in July. It's a shame the nettle contest doesn't precede the World Dock Pudding Championships (dock leaves: they're not just for nettle stings anymore!) which is held in early April in West Yorkshire.

If stuffing your face against the clock doesn't hold much appeal, you can still be a world champion Pea Shooter. The world championships are held each July in the pea-rich Cambridgeshire Fens.

And let's not forget the famous World Gravy Wrestling Championships, held each August in Lancashire's own special variety of gravy. Because grappling in a giant vat of gravy isn't entertaining enough, contestants are encouraged to sport costumes and suitably intimidating nicknames.  

Finally, all other food-related contests are a far cry (ahem, sorry) from the Newent Onion Eating Competition, in which contestants try eat a raw, peeled onion (5 ounces for women, 7 ounces for men) in the fastest time. Think you can chomp your way to beating 2012's reigning champ (1 minute and 6 seconds)? Just follow your nose to Gloucestershire in September.