A team from a village in Slovakia have been crowned the fastest gravediggers in central Europe after seeing off stiff competition from rivals from Poland and Hungary.

The gravedigging championships, held in the Slovakian city of Trenčín, saw 10 teams compete using only shovels and picks to dig graves 1.5 metres (5ft) deep, 2 metres (6.5ft) long and 0.9 metres (3ft) wide.

The contest, part of the International Exhibition of Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services, graded the teams on speed and accuracy, and was meant to promote the funeral industry and provide a less serious perspective on the job of gravedigger.

Christian Striz, a spokesman for the event who dressed up as the Grim Reaper, said: “This whole exhibition is about getting groups of funeral companies together. It’s all about showing people how hard [the gravedigger’s job is].

“Most Slovak graveyards are so crowded and spaces between graves so narrow that we need human diggers instead of machines. They work hard, come rain, come snow.”

The winners pose for a family photo after their victory in 54 minutes. Judges said their grave was the neatest. Photograph: Radovan Stoklasa/Reuters

Two brothers representing Peter Pastorok’s funeral services from Kalná nad Hronom emerged as the winners.

Ladislav Skladan, 43, and Csaba Skladan, 41, dug the grave according to the specification in 54 minutes, with a five-member jury agreeing that their effort was the neatest.

Csaba Skladan said: “I am happy we won, it’s a satisfaction after 15 years in this job.”

Ladislav Skladan said: “I had to focus on speed today, but usually, when the weather is nice and I can chat with my brother, it’s a dream job.”