WITH challengers clad in tutus, hot pants and kilts, a wannabe Ali G, and a Korean TV crew launching into the Gangnam Style routine at the finish line, Tetbury’s Woolsack Races lived up to their quirky reputation on Monday.

Hundreds of people lined the street to watch competitors haul sacks of up to 60lb on their backs before running up and down Gumstool Hill for the popular annual event.

And with a group of Korean celebrities flying in from Seoul to be filmed as they toiled in the race, spectators were provided with non-stop entertainment for more than two hours.

Within seconds of reaching the finish line, TV celebrity Park Hyo-June, collapsed with exhaustion, only to stand up again to bust some Gangnam Style moves and then fall to the ground again.

The George Veterinary Group staff claimed victory in the mixed team category fighting off tough competition from their rivals on team Boom.

Veterinary nurse Emma Rawlings told the Standard: " We try to win every year but I always feel very nervous. It’s letting the team down that’s the worry. Now I’m going to celebrate with a pint of cider."

Leicester contestant Joel Hicks spiced things up by tackling the steep hill blindfolded and relying on spectators to guide him.

He may not have won but his efforts earned him a round of applause from the audience.

"It was scary out there," said Joel, who has raced four times previously. "People were shouting left and right. I’m sure at some point people were shouting left deliberately when I should have gone right. But I made it in one piece."

Hunter Workman won the best man’s individual race trophy having completed the 240-yard route in just 52 sec.

The winning men’s team was The Redirections, competing on behalf of the Royal Oak pub, whose four members Simon Smogur, Josh Jensen, Martin Holloway and Ben Porter, finished the race in 3 min and 13 sec.

The group had won the challenge back in 2011.

"We didn’t train at all, it’s just muscle memory," said Joel.

Although no-one signed up for the women’s race, the day was a memorable one, according to organiser Cllr Stephen Hurst.

"It was a fantastic day and every everybody seems to have enjoyed themselves," he said. " We have had a record of team entries. It’s very positive for the future. It seems to get better every year."