Pix to come!

How do you spend your holidays? Enjoy a lie-in, eat delicious long lunches, or drive out into the country for day trips with family and friends?

During his last break, Gloucester Citizen reporter David Byers did none of these, instead trying on a slice of Japanese culture.

He visited a local school taking part in a range of extreme activities… including sumo wrestling.

David made his way to try his hand at riding on a rodeo horse, bungee running with a rope attached to his waist as well as sumo-wrestling in a vast suit.

David said: "In all the events I had to compete against Treena Miller, of Radio Severn Sound's Black Thunder Crew.

"As truly the most un-sporty person ever, I genuinely feared competing against a woman in front of 200 (laughing) kids."

And as he expected David did not find the tasks set him easy.

He said: "As I neared the end of the bungee run, my legs started spinning desperately against the air-filled turf as the rope tightened around my waist, before I eventually flew on my back.

"Within seconds on the rodeo machine I twisted off it pathetically, grazing my hand as I fell on the turf.

"And bouncing along in a sumo-wrestling suit, it was difficult to even stand up in the first place, let alone prevent myself from falling over.

"Thankfully, Treena was just about as appalling as me and I somehow managed to beat her overall. But more importantly the event was all for a good cause."

The event was part of the celebrations organised by the local Neighbourhood Watch. Its aim was to raise enough money for a minibus for the community, and more 200 people attended.

Families were able to enjoy rodeo-riding, bungee-running, quad bikes, ice-cream stalls, a beer tent, pig roast, and the famous RAF falling rocks parachute display team.

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