2016 World Alternative Games in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales

The World Alternative Games, the multi-sport event for quirky, odd and obscure games, is back for its third-edition this year.

The festival of sport will be taking place in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales between the 12th and 29th August 2016 and features an action packed calendar of events for people of all ages and abilities.

Athletes at the World Alternative Games compete in the Corinthian Spirit

We organised the Finger Jousting Championships at the 2012 and 2014 events. In the first-year there were 35 events, with over 60 titles up for grabs in 2014.

The competitors at the Official World Finger Jousting Championships in 2014

At the first edition of the event in 2012 I also won the World Alternative Games Egg Throwing Championships with my team mate Jas Kukielka. I also competed in the World of Grip and Portaputt contests in 2014.

About to win a world title

Find out more about the World Alternative Games on the official website.

Links:
- World Alternative Games website
- World Finger Jousting Federation website

Related blog posts:
- World Alternative Games

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World of Grip at the World Alternative Games

Entering the World of Grip!

While organising the World Finger Jousting Championships at the World Alternative Games in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales I had a go at the sport of Grip.

The World of Grip were at the Games and hosted a variety of events, including one aimed at newcomers.

The World of Grip medals at the World Alternative Games

In the First-Timers Class there were eleven competitors and I finished in 9th place overall, picking up a 5th place finish in the first event - the Half a Penny Hold!

Event 1 - the Half a Penny hold - literally holding a weight by half a penny sized disc using only your thumb and forefinger. I managed to hold 10kg for 6 seconds

In event 2 - Shallow Hub - I was 10th and in the third and final event - PickAxe Lever to Rear - I was 9th.

Event 2 - the Shallow Hub - like holding a very large and heavy jar by the lid using only the tips of your fingers and thumb. I recorded a lift of 9kg for 14 seconds

Event 3 - the PickAxe Lever to Rear hold - you had to keep the lever steady so as not to knock a small ball off of the middle of the lever. I managed to lift and hold 2.4kg for 11 seconds

My very first go at World of Grip saw me lift a weight for 19 seconds, but this was outscored by my 6 second lift of 10kg in the Half a Penny discipline.

The World Alternative Games Corinthian medal for competing in the World of Grip

There were also some pro events and a number of world records were broken at the event! Check out David Horne's World of Grip website and the World of Grip Facebook page for more info and results.

The pro Grip athletes in action at the final event of the day - the Braced Snapping Steel Bar - a twenty minute event where the competitors have to snap a steel bar!

The World of Grip contest was another in the long-line of hand and finger sports I've competed in that have included Finger Jousting, Arm Champs (video game Arm Wrestling), Thumb Wrestling and Rock Paper Scissors.

The World Alternative Games 2014 is a multi-sport event with over 60 sport and recreation contest held during the festival of fun and games in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales.

Related blog posts:
- World Alternative Games
- Behold...

Links:
- David Horne's World of Grip website
- World of Grip's Facebook page
- Results of the 2014 World Alternative Games – World of Grip contest
- Results of the World of Grip contest on the World Alternative Games website
- World Alternative Games