15 Strangest Competitions In The World

Have you ever heard of the world’s strangest competitions?

They are mind-blowing events that reveal the extraordinary skills and passions of individuals from diverse backgrounds.  The world is full of unique and unusual competitions that showcase the quirkiest and most unexpected talents. From bizarre sports to wacky events, here is a list of some of the strangest competitions you can find around the globe.

Prepare to be amazed as RNN delves into the realm of 15 astonishing and downright bizarre contests that you won’t be able to wrap your head around.

1. Cheese Rolling

The Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake is an annual event that takes place near Gloucester in England on the Spring Bank Holiday. Participants from around the world race down a 200-yard hill in pursuit of a Double Gloucester cheese wheel. This longstanding tradition originated in the village of Brockworth but has gained international recognition, attracting winners from various countries such as Canada, Belgium, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The latest event occurred on May 29, 2023.

2. World Conker Championships

The World Conker Championships (WCC)is one of the strangest competitions in the World. This is an annual conkers tournament held in Northamptonshire, England on the second Sunday of October. In the game, two players take turns hitting each other’s conkers until one breaks. People from various countries participate in the tournament, which includes team and individual competitions for men, women, and youth categories. Around 5,000 spectators watch about 400 players from different countries like Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Here are the rules of the WCC:

1. Tournament officials collect, drill, and string over 2,000 horse chestnuts (conkers) with a width of 1.25 inches (30 mm). The conkers and laces are provided by the World Conker Championships.
2. Players draw conkers randomly from a bag and can reject up to three selected conkers.
3. The game starts with a coin toss, and the winner chooses to strike or receive.
4. There should be a minimum distance of 8 inches or 20 cm between the knuckle and the nut.
5. Each player takes three turns to strike their opponent’s conker.
6. The game ends when one of the conkers breaks.
7. If a game lasts more than five minutes, the “5-minute rule” applies. Each player gets up to nine additional strikes at their opponent’s nut, alternating three strikes each. If neither conker breaks after nine strikes, the player with the most hits wins. If it’s a tie, play continues with one strike each until one player hits and the other misses.

3. Bog Snorkeling

In this Stangest Competition, Bog snorkeling is a sport where participants try to swim through a 60-yard (55 m) trench in a peat bog wearing a snorkel, diving mask, and flippers. They aim to finish the course as quickly as possible using only their flippers, without traditional swimming strokes.

The women’s world record was achieved by Kirsty Johnson in 2014, completing the course in 1 minute and 22.56 seconds. Neil Rutter holds the men’s world record of 1 minute and 18.81 seconds, set in 2018 at the Waen Rhydd bog in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales.

Here are the rules:

1. The organizers must create a water-filled trench that is 60 yards (55 m) long in the peat bog.
2. Competitors must wear snorkels, masks, and flippers.
3. Wearing a wetsuit is not mandatory, but many participants choose to wear one.
4. Bog snorkellers must swim two consecutive lengths totaling 120 yards (110 m) as quickly as possible.

4. Wife Carrying

Wife-carrying is a fun contest where male competitors race while carrying a female partner. The goal is to go through an obstacle track as fast as possible. The sport started in Sonkajärvi, Finland.

The carrying styles can be piggyback, fireman’s carry, or Estonian-style (wife upside-down on his back).

Here are the rules:

1. The official track is 253.5 meters long.
2. There are two dry obstacles and one water obstacle about one meter deep.
3.  If she weighs less, she’ll carry a rucksack with extra weight to reach 49 kg.
4. Participants are responsible for their safety and insurance if needed.
5. Contestants must follow the organizers’ instructions.
6. The World Championships have one category, and the fastest couple wins. Special prizes are given for the most entertaining couple, best costume, and strongest carrier.
7. While the International rules apply to all competitions, each event might have its own variations in rules and prizes.
8. The Wife Carrying World Championships have taken place annually in Sonkajärvi, Finland, since 1992, where the prize for the winning couple is the wife’s weight in beer.

5. World Beard and Moustache Championships

This is also one of the strangest and weirdest competitions in the World. The Snorrenclub Antwerpen organizes the World Beard and Moustache Championships every year to celebrate international bearding. The contest changes location each year, and in 2019, it took place in Belgium from May 17 to 19. The judging is based on 17 categories divided into mustaches, partial beards, and full beards.

In the United States, the National Beard and Moustache Championships, sponsored by Remington Beard Boss and organized by Beard Team USA, will be held on November 8 and 9, 2019, in Chicago Southland.

6. World Pea Shooting Championships

The World Pea Shooting Championships have been held every year since 1971 in Witcham Village, Cambridgeshire, England. Competitors from different countries like the USA, Canada, Scandinavia, France, Spain, New Zealand, and Holland have participated. The competition involves shooting peas at a 12-inch target covered in glazing putty, placed 12 feet away, using a peashooter no longer than 12 inches. Anyone can participate, and there are no restrictions on the technology used as long as the pea is propelled by blowing with the mouth.

7. Toe Wrestling

This Strangest Competition is Move over arm wrestling, toe wrestling is here! Hailing from the UK, this sport involves two competitors locking toes and trying to pin each other’s foot down. It’s a bizarre twist on a classic competition that has gained a dedicated following.

Toe wrestling is a sport where two opponents lock their toes and try to press down each other’s feet, just like in arm wrestling.

Rules:

1. Players must remove their shoes and socks before playing, as the game is played with bare feet.
2. Players must connect their toes and make sure their foot touches the other person’s flat in two out of three rounds.
3. The rounds are played initially with the right foot, then the left foot, and again with the right foot if needed.

8. Extreme Ironing

This is an unusual sport where people bring ironing boards to remote places and iron their clothes. The Extreme Ironing Bureau describes it as a thrilling outdoor activity that combines danger with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt.

People have performed extreme ironing in various locations, such as mountainsides, forests, canoes, while skiing or snowboarding, on top of statues, on streets, underwater, on the M1 motorway, in keirin cycle races, while parachuting, and even under the ice of frozen lakes. These performances can be done alone or in groups.

9. Worm Charming

WC is one of the strangest competitions in the world. In the small village of Willaston, England, an annual worm charming championship takes place. Contestants stomp the ground to simulate rain and entice worms to come to the surface. The person who can charm the most worms within a designated time wins the title.

Worm charming, worm grunting, and worm fiddling are ways to get earthworms from the ground. People do it to get bait for fishing or as a competitive sport in places like the UK and East Texas. Worm charming used to be a common skill and job, but now it’s rare. It’s passed down through generations to keep it alive.

10. Baby Jumping

In Spain, a centuries-old tradition known as El Colacho involves men dressed as devils leaping over babies lying on mattresses in the streets. This unusual event is believed to cleanse the infants of sin and bring good luck.

Baby jumping, also known as El Colacho is one of the strangest competitions in the World. This is an ancient Spanish festival that started in 1620. It happens every year in Castrillo de Murcia, a village in the province of Burgos, to celebrate the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi.

11. Underwater Hockey

Underwater hockey, also known as Octopush, is a sport played globally in swimming pools. Two teams compete to push a puck into the opposing team’s goal using a hockey stick. Players face the challenge of holding their breath since they cannot use breathing devices like scuba gear.

The game was invented in England in 1954 by Alan Blake as a way to keep members of the Southsea Sub-Aqua Club active during the winter. Underwater hockey is now played worldwide and governed by the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS). The first Underwater Hockey World Championship took place in Canada in 1980, overcoming initial obstacles in 1979 due to international politics and apartheid.

12. Camel Wrestling

Camel wrestling is a popular event in Turkey and is one of the strangest competitions in the world, particularly in the Aegean region. Male camels battle each other in the ring, showcasing their strength and dominance. It’s a spectacle that attracts large crowds and highlights the power of these majestic animals.

This strange game also known as Turkish deve güreşi, is a sport where two male Tülü camels engage in wrestling.

13. Quidditch

Inspired by the magical sport depicted in the Harry Potter series, real-life Quidditch has gained popularity worldwide. Teams of players compete on broomsticks, aiming to score points by throwing balls through hoops while avoiding opponents’ tackles.

14. Cockroach Racing

Cockroach racing is a gambling activity that started in Australia in 1982, where participants bring their own cockroaches or buy them at the venue to race. It has become popular in other parts of the world, including the United States.

15. Mobile Phone Throwing

Mobile phone throwing is an international sport that began in Finland in 2000. Participants throw mobile phones and are judged based on distance or technique. There are four categories: Original, Freestyle, Team Original, and Junior. The phones used can vary, but they must weigh over 220 grams.

The rules include staying within the throwing area, landing the phone within the marked sector, and following the jury’s decisions.

In conclusion: These competitions may be unusual, but they bring together people from different backgrounds and provide a platform for showcasing extraordinary skills and talents. So, whether it’s chasing cheese or snorkeling through bogs, these events offer a glimpse into the wonderfully weird world of unconventional sports and activities.

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