The world’s weirdest sporting competitions

Countries over the world play host to some of the strangest competitions in history. Here, courtesy of Time.com, are 10 of the weirdest.

Rock Paper Scissors: The seventh annual Rock Paper Scissors championship was held in Toronto on 25 October. While some say strategy can help you, most put winning the grand prize – $US10,000 dollars – down to pure luck.

Bog Snorkeling: This championship in Wales – which this year hosted its 23rd annual event – pits competitors to swim two lengths of a disgusting bog with flippers and a snorkel. All for a measly $100.

Man versus Horse Marathon: Seems straightforword, but this British race has been running since 1981 and surprisingly even a cyclist has won. The first person to beat a horse on foot was Huw Lopp in 2004.

Extreme Ironing: This British competition sees people ironing clothes in extreme situations. They’ve bungee-ironed, parachute-ironed and even ironed on top of Mount Rushmore.

Wife Carrying: Starting as a joke in Finland, this competition now pits men carrying their significant others through a heavily laden obstacle course. The winner takes home his wife’s weight in beer.

Tiddlywinks: While most people remember playing this at school, some are reliving their childhood education by entering the world championships. Overseen by the English Tiddlywinks Association.

Conkers: This game involves two players and chestnuts with holes drilled through them, attached to string. Players must destroy the opponent’s nut – only in Britian.

Chess Boxing: This one is just weird. Players compete in alternating rounds of speed chess and boxing. There are 50 competitive chess boxers worldwide.

Punkin Chunkin: Teams build devices to see which can launch a pumpkin the farthest. Held in the north-eastern United States, the record is held by a team that launched a pumpkin 4434 feet.

Air Guitar: The Air Guitar World Championships, which began in 1996, pits competitors to “play” their best against a song chosen by themselves, and one by an audience. Points are given based on energy and realism.