Hundreds of people from around the globe gathered in Ramsbottom today, Sunday, for the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships.
The annual competition, which is held outside The Oak pub on Bridge Street, is a key event in the town’s calendar.
Competitors waited in an endless queue, before taking aim with their black puddings with the objective of knocking as many giant Yorkshire puddings off a raised platform as they could with three underarm throws.
Running from 11am until 4pm with adult and junior categories, there was plenty of entertainment on offer, including Pudfest, which saw live music performed out the back of the pub in Memories Courtyard, as well as fairground rides and trampolines for the kids, and food stalls.
The internationals even included competitors from Ukraine, Peru, Spain, Italy, Austria, South Africa, USA and Austraila, among others.
"This truly is the world championships," the compere could be heard saying.
This year’s the winner was decided by a "lob-off" following a four-way tie in the adult section, each of whom managed to knock six Yorkshire puddings off.
Stuart Hubbart, part of the Wolverhampton Wangerers team that has a history of winners, was crowned world champion, after being the only competitor in the lob off to dislodge a Yorkshire pudding.
Stuart explained what makes it a great day, saying: “Just come out. Mates together. Put some money to charity. Have a go. Look a fool. Who cares?
“It’s great fun.”
The junior section was won by Libby White from Childwall, Liverpool, who also managed to get a score of six.
Stuart and Libby took home £100 and £20 respectively, and the rest of the money raised through the sale of black pudding missiles will go to local charities.
Stuart Graham, 77, who described himself as “one of the instigators” of the original competition that was formerly held at the Corner Pin in Stubbins in 1988, was in the crowd to enjoy the fun.
He said: “We were in the pub one night and we thought, ‘what can we do for charity?’, and we came up with the idea, ‘let’s throw black puddings at Yorkshire puddings’.
“We put the tail about that it was during the war of the roses when they ran out of ammunition, they started throwing Yorkshire puddings at us and we started throwing black puddings at them.”
“I’ve never won it. I don’t think I’ve ever knocked any off.”
He added: “It’s like this every year.
“Everybody’s here. Everybody will be eating and drinking. Loads of money going into the competition which all goes to charity.”
Oliver Doyle, from Bromley Cross, came to the event for the first time this year. He said: “I’m not very good at throwing. You’ll probably need a hard hat because I’ll probably throw it the wrong way.”
He added: “It’s brilliant. I know Covid’s been but it’s nice to get back out and doing stuff properly.
“It’s a nice town, Rammy. There’s a sense of community. You’ve got a band on there and everybody’s just happy.
“Sometimes it feels like we’re losing our sense of community, but this gets it back.”
Luca Greenlees, from Walshaw, was waiting for a go alongside his mum.
He managed to knock off “three or four” Yorkshire puddings off last year and was back for another go.
He said: “You get to challenge other people in a competition. It’s really fun.”
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