Brit nettle-eating champion takes on US pillow fighter and air guitarist in bizarre contest to become Pokemon megastar

A STINGING nettle eating champion is now taking on other weird sports winners from around the world – at kids’ craze Pokemon. Lumberjack Mike Hobbs is the only Brit selected to compete against an international field of bizarre victors at a new computer game. Mike can eat 50ft of nettles but does not play computer games The winner will go to the world championship final in San Francisco The dad-of-two from Dorset will face off against the world whistling champion, a German hobby horse rider, a top pillow fighter, and the world’s best air guitar player. The rivals will meet at a boxing ring in Southwark, London, on Wednesday to play the new Pokemon video game Champions. Sign up for the Tech newsletter Thank you! The event will be live streamed around the world. Three times world stinging nettle eating champion Mike, who has no previous experience of playing Pokemon, said: “I can eat 50ft of nettles in an hour but this is a different kettle of fish. German hobby horse champ Nele Noerbass jumped at the chance to compete US pillow fighting champion Leandro Apollo wants to win “I’ve been in training but I think a lot will come down to luck.” The 45-year-old from Dorchester, first won the annual nettle contest in 2009 at the Bottle Inn in Marshwood, Dorset. He then won it again last year and retained his title this year when he vowed to put an end to his nettle eating. He said: “I thought I had given up bizarre sports after I won this year but then I was asked to play Pokemon. Most read in Shopping Whistling genius Ayna Ziordia Botella from Spain hopes it will be a breeze Canada’s Zachary Knowles is an air guitar champion “I had to get a teenager to train me on what to do. “I’ve tried reading the pokemon encyclopedia but there is so much to learn.” Others competing in the showdown include Spanish whistling champion Ayna Ziordia Botella, American Pillow Fighting Champion Leandro Silva, and Doing Nothing Champion, Denis Kwan Hong-Wang from Hong Kong. The contestants got coaching on Tuesday from Pokemon World Champion Ray Rizzo. Mike was first crowned world champion nettle scoffer in 2009 Credit: Geoffrey Swaine Pokemon is a worldwide craze Credit: Alamy The final showdown on Wednesday will be live streamed to fans worldwide on Twitch and YouTube. The winner will secure a trip to the 2027 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco, and a charitable donation made in their name to a charity of their choice. The Pokemon Champions game can be played across mobile devices and on Nintendo Switch. Denis Kwan Hong-Wang from Hong Kong holds the title for ‘doing nothing’ Gotta catch them all Comment now