LONDON, Aug 2 — Ready, set, chug! Dozens of the world’s leading ‘Beer Milers’ travelled to north London for the first ever intercontinental drinking race, called the Beer Mile World Classic.

Competitors have to drink one beer before running each of the fours laps, totaling one mile.

"Basic rule is you need four beers. They must be minimum 5 per cent alcohol, they have to be 355ml or 12 ounces. They can be out of a can or out of a bottle. And at the start of every lap, you start with chugging a beer. When you’re finished, you throw it to the side or pour it over your head to show that it’s done and continue on,” explains Corey Gallagher, the race organiser.

Canadian Corey Bellemore won the Men’s Elite Race setting a New Beer Mile World Record time of 4:34:35. He drank his beer in just 8 seconds on some laps.

"Just tried to chug the beers as quick as I could, hold them down,” says Bellemore.

The Beer Mile is one of the most popular sub-cultures of extreme sports known as "digestive athletics,” with thousands of registered competitors worldwide. — Reuters