Groom-to-be chooses best man by setting mates 12 challenges over two YEARS

When groom-to-be Duncan Twigg was selecting his best man, he wanted to be absolutely sure the candidate was up to the job.

And when Duncan, 31, couldn't decide who to trust with the honour, he concocted a devilish set of challenges for his brother and three mates.

Duncan made his younger brother Chris, along with friends Luke Redel, James Bradwell and Dan Shaw complete two YEARS of contests to separate the four wedding rivals.

The potential best men were made to compete in 12 grueling tests - including a dance-off, a pub treasure hunt, and a best man speech contest.

And after the final competition - a hot dog eating contest in April this year - the overall winner emerged as brother Chris, 29.

Delighted Chris will now proudly stand by his brother's side when Duncan ties the knot with financee Rosanna Lethbridge at a ceremony in the village of Stokenham, Devon, this Saturday.

Duncan got engaged to sweetheart Rosanna, 27, after proposing to her at the Grand Canyon, USA, in May 2011.

Duncan, from Attenborough, Notts, said: 'There's been a lot of fun and games.

'It's been a great excuse for the guys to get together. It's almost like I've been on 12 stag dos.

The first event was held in August 2011 where the four men - all from Nottingham - competed in a pub treasure hunt.

The next was seeing who could make the most money from £10 within eight hours, which was won by Dan. 

That was followed by a traditional school sports day, which consisted of egg and spoon race, three-legged race and a sack race.

The group also held a Come Dine With Me-style contest, a pub quiz and a sports day - where the boys played each other at darts, pool and dominoes.

And by this point Chris, a training assistant, had already taken a 10 point lead ahead of the other competitors.

Duncan said: 'Chris was out in front from about the halfway point.

'He put in the most effort of the four to win - and he is my brother after all.'

Duncan said his favourite event was a hilarious dance contest judged by their local MP Anna Soubry.

Another of the dozen challenges also saw  Duncan given a preview of the contestant's best man speeches.

Duncan added: 'Chris actually came second in that one.

'He'll be even better come the real thing, and I'll probably get a lot more stick.'

When it came to Duncan's stag do - which Chris finally got to organise last month - they set him challenges of his own when the group went to Liverpool for the weekend. 

He said: 'They bought me a four foot-long Subway sandwich and ordered me to eat it.

'I only got about a third of the way through before I was full.

'I definitely preferred being the one who set the challenges.'

Despite missing out on the role, the other three contestants will have the consolation of being ushers at Duncan's wedding.

The contest was inspired by the film 12 Rounds - starring John Cena and Ashley Scott - in which a detective is set a dozen challenges to free his kidnapped girlfriend.