World Stinging Nettle Eating Championship 2008

The cup was retained this year by last year's winner Paul Collins, a builder from Lyme Regis, who chomped his way through 64ft of nettles - just 12ft short of the all-time best, set by three-times winner Simon Sleigh, from Hawkchurch.

The ladies' winner was another previous champion - Jo Carter, of Weymouth. After her absence last year she returned to claim the crown she first won in 2005, this time swallowing 36ft of nettles - a world record for the women.

Click here to watch YouTube Video of Championship

Comedian Rory McGrath was among the plucky competitors. The TV star was at the Bottle Inn to film the annual world championships for a new show about quirky British pastimes - called Rory and Paddy's Road of Sports.

A record 60 people braved the rain to take part in the tournament, eating yards of nettles at blistering pace, washing down the prickly leaves with glasses of ale.