American glory and regional joy at World Thumb Wrestling Championships in Lowestoft

The fifth World Thumb Wrestling Championships held at the Triangle Tavern at Lowestoft. James Isaacs from Los Angeles. Picture: Denise Bradley copyright: Archant 2013

It was a case of “mission accomplished” for one American challenger last night (Saturday), after he swooped into Lowestoft and captured a world title.

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The fifth World Thumb Wrestling Championships held at the Triangle Tavern at Lowestoft. Picture: Denise Bradley The fifth World Thumb Wrestling Championships held at the Triangle Tavern at Lowestoft. Picture: Denise Bradley

James ‘Tiger Monkey’ Isaacs was crowned as the men’s World Thumb Wrestling Champion after some exciting contests at a packed Triangle Tavern in Lowestoft.

As some of the finest thumb-to-thumb combat fighters descended on the pub in St Peters Street for a sporting contest with a difference, organisers hailed this year’s event as a success.

Dayna ‘Big Digit’ Hunt, from Norwich, lifted the women’s title once more, as she successfully defended her crown and became the first competitor in the history of the World Thumb Wrestling Championships to lift back-to-back titles.

Also fulfilling a dream, Tiger Monkey – the undefeated champion from the USA who had flown over specially for the contest – was lost for words after becoming men’s champion.

The fifth World Thumb Wrestling Championships held at the Triangle Tavern at Lowestoft. Jason Wilson, right, from Diss wins his first round. Picture: Denise Bradley The fifth World Thumb Wrestling Championships held at the Triangle Tavern at Lowestoft. Jason Wilson, right, from Diss wins his first round. Picture: Denise Bradley

“I can’t believe it, I am trying to find the words to say.....this has been such an epic adventure from the very beginning,” he said. “I don’t know what the feeling is (at the moment).”

For Tiger Monkey, his journey to Lowestoft was far greater than the 5,000-plus miles he had travelled from Los Angeles last week – as his quest to capture the world title was filmed for a special documentary.

After some of the toughest thumbs on the planet had squared off at the packed Lowestoft pub, the fifth world thumb wrestling championships saw film crews arrive from the USA to capture all the action for the docu-movie. Tiger Monkey eventually beat Obi Thumb Kenobi in a tense final, after three rounds could not separate the two competitors. Eventually, the thumb wrestling ring was cast aside, and Tiger Monkey triumphed in a freestyle battle.

Big Digit beat 1st MC in an equally tense women’s final, eventually triumphing in a rock, paper, scissors battle after a deadlocked final. The 24-year-old dental nurse, from central Norwich, said: “I am absolutely thrilled.”

The 2012 men’s champion Graeme ‘Flash’ Cunningham, from Scotland, lost out in the semi final to Obi Thumb Kenobi.

FOR MORE PICTURES AND DETAILS FROM THE CHAMPIONSHIPS, BE SURE TO BUY TOMORROW’S EDITION AND FRIDAY’S LOWESTOFT JOURNAL