EVERYONE loves a good arm wrestle or thumb war, but have you ever tried toe wrestling?
Organisers of the alternative sport's world championship are looking for North-East and North Yorkshire competitors ahead of this year's event.
Toe wrestling is similar to arm wrestling - competitors play sat down, with bare feet and link toes.
The World Toe Wrestling Federation has announced its 2021 championship is going ahead on August 26 in Derbyshire - and it will be 'toe-tally amazing'.
Organisers want to see people from all walks of life involved, including those from the North-East and North Yorkshire.
While you may have never heard of the sport, its competitors are just as serious as other athletes and are just as prone to injuries.
Ben ‘Total Destruction’ Woodroffe, second in the world at the sport, had his ankle snapped in two places by 16-time champion Alan ‘Nasty’ Nash.
Mr Woodroffe, 32, and Mr Nash, 63, co-own and run The World Toe Wrestling Federation and were practising at the time.
This year's competition will be Mr Nash's last as he plans to retire after taking home a 17th title, which would make him the only sportsman in history to do so.
He won the toe wrestling world championships in 1994, its official first year, and thereafter in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Four broken toes, however, mean he was unable to compete in 1998, while the competition was suspended from 2003 to 2009 after controversy over the winner which saw Mr Nash lose then regain the winning title.
Mr Nash's retirement would leave the top spot open for Mr Woodroffe but his toe wrestling career hangs in the balance after his ankle injury.
The 32-year-old started playing the sport at 14 in a junior event and had his first adult game at 17. He has since had his toenails surgically removed to give him a competitive edge.
Mr Woodroffe: "It is difficult to beat Alan. I had my toenails removed because your toes go through a lot of stress. My nail was digging my toe cushion but now they are completely gone.
Mr Nash has his own techniques to get ahead, with his competitor adding: "Alan uses a toe stretcher to make his toes more durable.
"You can also get toe weights, they are a thing."
The sport was created in 1974 by four drinkers in the pub who were fed up with England not producing any world champions after another World Cup loss.
The idea was that, if they invented a sport no one knew about, they would be the champions. But the competition was stopped after a visiting Canadian bagged the title in its second year.
Now, Mr Woodroffe is encouraging others to get involved.
He said: "Some people find it gross because it's feet, while some people are quite amazed by it. It's good on a job CV, loads of people have asked me about it."
It is not a men's sport, with a women's and junior championship also taking place.
Lisa ‘Twinkle Toes’ Shenton currently holds the women's title and Dolly Millward is the Kids world champion.
The championship was traditionally held at The Royal Oak near Ashbourne, Derbyshire, but will this year be held at Ashbourne Heights caravan park to allow spectators to social distance.
"We cancelled it last year and wanted to go full steam ahead but as it stands, are still open to the fact it may have to be cancelled," Mr Woodroffe said.
"It is a people's sport there are no levels or qualifiers and anyone can join. For that reason, we cannot have it behind closed doors."
Anyone wishing to compete should work on their core and leg strength, with Mr Woodroffe saying that is where the power comes from.
While there is not normally a large prize due to the championships being self-funded, this year's winner will bag a stay at Ashbourne Heights.
To find out more, visit the World Toe Wrestling Federation- WTWF page on Facebook.
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