Wednesday, September 26, 2007
THREE PUDS ON MY CHEST
We have received no news as yet about our status as an Olympic Sport. Despite our shortage of medal hopes in other sports, there are real potentials for British glory in Black Pudding Throwing. With all the home nations in the top half of the World Rankings, and a British born World Champion three years running, Team GB would form the backbone of our Olympic hopes. A lobby group has been set up on Facebook and we hope to organise a petition via our new blog. Please post to the blog to lend your support... All Together Now... 'THREE PUDS ON MY CHEST....!'
2007 CHAMPIONSHIPS REPORT
SANDGROUNDER SWINGS HIS PUDDINGS IN ROLLERCOASTER CHAMPIONSHIP RESULT!
What a Championship 2007 was!!!
Not only was there a record breaking number of entries at close to 900 (how soon in this millenium before the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships gets a three zero number of entries we wonder), but PUDSTOCK / PUDFEST was a treat to behold with an awesome line-up of bands that continues to grow and improve year on year.
Entries were taken from as far a Nigeria and Malaysia as the world-wide appeal of this ever challenging, fascinating and above all addictive sport continues to reach the parts of the world that other sports just don't.
The Championship was placed under a high security alert by rumours of a planned attempt by international criminals to steal the priceless Golden Grid, which is part of the ceremonial heritage of the event, and also serves as the contestants' oche. Intelligence reports surfacing in May suggested a 'real and imminent' danger, and the Grid was placed under heavy security. As a result, the traditional scottish piper was replaced this year by a military escort that accompanied the Grid from it's secret location, via steam train in an armoured carriage, to Ramsbottom Station. From here the military escort accompanied the Grid to the barks of the squad sargeant and the metronomic sound of precision marching. Close guard was maintained on the grid throughout the event, and thankfully there proved to be no attempt to steal the grid on the day.
The weather, as is customary for Black Pudding Throwing, was fit to melt clog-irons, and the new landlady at the Royal Oak, Elaine Singleton, was on hand to ensure that all contestants and organisers maintained adequate fluid intake.
The final, if not as spectacular a finale as last year, exhibited the ukelele-string tension that typifies many of the finest Championships, something that real pudding-throwing connoisseurs find far more satisfying as they wring their flat caps in anticipation.
For nearly four hours, Paul Rudge of Southport (known as Sandgrounders in those parts, on account of the fact that everyone builds their house on sandy ground - and presumably, as biblical wisdom would indicate, there are no wise men in the town! Although rumour has it that there are also no... oops!... better not go there!)
For nearly four hours, Paul 'Rollercoaster' Rudge of Southport, had to wait for his winning throw to be verified as the highest score. But as he wiped the sweat from his brow with white knuckled hands and absent mindedly chewed the famous Royal Oak window ledge, contestant after contestant stepped up to come within inches of equalling his score and knocking him off the top of the leader board.
At one point no less than six contestants were officially designated 'Yorkshiremen' (or 'one pudding short of a trophy') tied as they were in second just behind Rollercoaster Rudge.
But the Rollercoaster held on despite the butterflies in his stomach leaping up, like a naked burglar in a mousetrap factory, each time his puddings were threatened.
Closest of all were defending champion Tony 'The Puddingmeister' Burke, and past champion Steve 'Swaddler' Pilkington. Both pushed the Rollercoaster hard in the final ten minutes of the competition, resorting to a blistering pace attack that rattled the scaffolding at every throw.
The crowd cheered, they groaned, they felt the tension in the very heart of their being. The clock ticked down, and as one the multitude counted with it, TEN!...NINE!...EIGHT!...and between counts, an eerie silence, no traffic, no chatter, just pure focus and concentration...THREE!...TWO!.......ONE!
And it was all over! The Rollercoaster Reigns!
Meanwhile, on the junior platform, young Regan 'The Destroyer' Duckworth swept all before him to commandingly win the Junior Championships. This young talent amazed all present with his mastery of the 'yorkwise reverse seam lob', a technique seldom attempted by today's 'fast lobbers'. The reverse seam lob employs the magnus effect, in the same way that Beckham swerves a football, to loop the platform from the yorkwise (or eastern) stack of puddings before reversing it's delicate trajectory to clear the opposite stack. Could Regan be a future seniors champion. Experts agree that if he had stepped up, as allowed by the rules, and entered on the Senior platform, we could have been looking at the youngest winner since Sean Taylor in 2002
Finally, we have received no news as yet about our status as an Olympic Sport. Despite our shortage of medal hopes in other sports, there are real potentials for British glory in Black Pudding Throwing. With all the home nations in the top half of the World Rankings, and a British born World Champion three years running, Team GB would form the backbone of our Olympic hopes. A lobby group has been set up on Facebook and we hope to organise a petition via our new blog. Please post to the blog to lend your support... All Together Now... 'THREE PUDS ON MY CHEST....!'
And so another year draws to it's scintillating conclusion. Contestants will rest briefly before embarking on their strict training regimes, to get ready for the most eagerly anticipated sporting event of 2008
Be there on the second sunday in September 2008 for the next chapter in pudding throwing history. Swaddle yer puddings! LOB ON!
What a Championship 2007 was!!!
Not only was there a record breaking number of entries at close to 900 (how soon in this millenium before the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships gets a three zero number of entries we wonder), but PUDSTOCK / PUDFEST was a treat to behold with an awesome line-up of bands that continues to grow and improve year on year.
Entries were taken from as far a Nigeria and Malaysia as the world-wide appeal of this ever challenging, fascinating and above all addictive sport continues to reach the parts of the world that other sports just don't.
The Championship was placed under a high security alert by rumours of a planned attempt by international criminals to steal the priceless Golden Grid, which is part of the ceremonial heritage of the event, and also serves as the contestants' oche. Intelligence reports surfacing in May suggested a 'real and imminent' danger, and the Grid was placed under heavy security. As a result, the traditional scottish piper was replaced this year by a military escort that accompanied the Grid from it's secret location, via steam train in an armoured carriage, to Ramsbottom Station. From here the military escort accompanied the Grid to the barks of the squad sargeant and the metronomic sound of precision marching. Close guard was maintained on the grid throughout the event, and thankfully there proved to be no attempt to steal the grid on the day.
The weather, as is customary for Black Pudding Throwing, was fit to melt clog-irons, and the new landlady at the Royal Oak, Elaine Singleton, was on hand to ensure that all contestants and organisers maintained adequate fluid intake.
The final, if not as spectacular a finale as last year, exhibited the ukelele-string tension that typifies many of the finest Championships, something that real pudding-throwing connoisseurs find far more satisfying as they wring their flat caps in anticipation.
For nearly four hours, Paul Rudge of Southport (known as Sandgrounders in those parts, on account of the fact that everyone builds their house on sandy ground - and presumably, as biblical wisdom would indicate, there are no wise men in the town! Although rumour has it that there are also no... oops!... better not go there!)
For nearly four hours, Paul 'Rollercoaster' Rudge of Southport, had to wait for his winning throw to be verified as the highest score. But as he wiped the sweat from his brow with white knuckled hands and absent mindedly chewed the famous Royal Oak window ledge, contestant after contestant stepped up to come within inches of equalling his score and knocking him off the top of the leader board.
At one point no less than six contestants were officially designated 'Yorkshiremen' (or 'one pudding short of a trophy') tied as they were in second just behind Rollercoaster Rudge.
But the Rollercoaster held on despite the butterflies in his stomach leaping up, like a naked burglar in a mousetrap factory, each time his puddings were threatened.
Closest of all were defending champion Tony 'The Puddingmeister' Burke, and past champion Steve 'Swaddler' Pilkington. Both pushed the Rollercoaster hard in the final ten minutes of the competition, resorting to a blistering pace attack that rattled the scaffolding at every throw.
The crowd cheered, they groaned, they felt the tension in the very heart of their being. The clock ticked down, and as one the multitude counted with it, TEN!...NINE!...EIGHT!...and between counts, an eerie silence, no traffic, no chatter, just pure focus and concentration...THREE!...TWO!.......ONE!
And it was all over! The Rollercoaster Reigns!
Meanwhile, on the junior platform, young Regan 'The Destroyer' Duckworth swept all before him to commandingly win the Junior Championships. This young talent amazed all present with his mastery of the 'yorkwise reverse seam lob', a technique seldom attempted by today's 'fast lobbers'. The reverse seam lob employs the magnus effect, in the same way that Beckham swerves a football, to loop the platform from the yorkwise (or eastern) stack of puddings before reversing it's delicate trajectory to clear the opposite stack. Could Regan be a future seniors champion. Experts agree that if he had stepped up, as allowed by the rules, and entered on the Senior platform, we could have been looking at the youngest winner since Sean Taylor in 2002
Finally, we have received no news as yet about our status as an Olympic Sport. Despite our shortage of medal hopes in other sports, there are real potentials for British glory in Black Pudding Throwing. With all the home nations in the top half of the World Rankings, and a British born World Champion three years running, Team GB would form the backbone of our Olympic hopes. A lobby group has been set up on Facebook and we hope to organise a petition via our new blog. Please post to the blog to lend your support... All Together Now... 'THREE PUDS ON MY CHEST....!'
And so another year draws to it's scintillating conclusion. Contestants will rest briefly before embarking on their strict training regimes, to get ready for the most eagerly anticipated sporting event of 2008
Be there on the second sunday in September 2008 for the next chapter in pudding throwing history. Swaddle yer puddings! LOB ON!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
CHAMPIONSHIP ARCHIVE: 2006 REPORT
The 2006 World Black Pudding Championships were a stunning demonstration of why this is one of the world's fastest growing sports. Over 1000 more spectators than expected were present as the event went to a tie-break or 'Lob-Off' for the first time in over 5 years.
After fending off fierce competition from Norway, whos team were followed every step of the way by the Norwegian press, three Brits stepped up beneath the sweltering sun to challenge for the most coveted sporting title in the World. And what a challenge it was!
American, British and German Television crews gaped in amazement at the thrilling climax. After the traditional round of 'scisor-paper-stone' to decide the order of play, Tony Burke took his place on the Golden Grid and launched a barnstorming delivery that dislodged three of Yorkshires finest.
Next up was Dave from Wales who sent his artful spinner up and around to send the 'lob-side'stack of puddings crashing to the ground and match England's three.
Steve, a veteran of past finals, kept his cool to match the leading two with a quite sensational 'bouncer' that ricocheted off the back-board to take two from the lob-side rear stack and one from the rear 'yorkwise' or western stack. Close observation revealed that the final pudding was dislodged by the merest delicate touch of the nylon swaddling... a fine example of the 'seam-lobbers' art.
The valiant champions had to throw again, this time a deft touch from Tony 'puddingmeister' Burke took two from the front lob-side stack. To roars from the visiting crowd Steve, the Welsh dragon, could only manage a limp 'wrist-break' that was at once audacious and ineffective. His score of one was enough to see him back on his way to the Valleys.
Past master, Steve, took to the grid and to the delight of the masses delivered a thumping lob that nearly took down the scaffolding and nearly matched the earlier Norwegian's efforts for sheer power and brutality. To the amazement of the watching world he took the championships to its first ever third round in a Lob-Off.
Finally, the heat took its toll on the two competitors who toiled under the Lancastrian sun, locked in the greatest pudding throwing tussle of the century. Steve scored a blank and it was left to Tony 'the Tiger' Burke to step into the limelight. Three consecutive scoring shots is that rarest of events - a 'Clog Trick' - the execution of which enables the competitor to pass their clogs around the audience. Would the first Clog Trick of the Millenium be witnessed by the spellbound thousands?
The spittle glistened on Tony's chin as he took aim with full concentration. A cunningly disguised full lob crackled through the air and before the three yorkwise puddings hit the soft Lancastrian tarmac, it was all over.
The greatest ever winning lob of the greatest ever final of the greatest ever world black pudding throwing championship by perhaps our greatest ever champion.
Will he retain his crown? Will the 2007 finals be even more gripping? There's only one way to find out. Be there on the second sunday in September 2007 for the next chapter in pudding throwing history. Swaddle yer puddings! LOB ON
After fending off fierce competition from Norway, whos team were followed every step of the way by the Norwegian press, three Brits stepped up beneath the sweltering sun to challenge for the most coveted sporting title in the World. And what a challenge it was!
American, British and German Television crews gaped in amazement at the thrilling climax. After the traditional round of 'scisor-paper-stone' to decide the order of play, Tony Burke took his place on the Golden Grid and launched a barnstorming delivery that dislodged three of Yorkshires finest.
Next up was Dave from Wales who sent his artful spinner up and around to send the 'lob-side'stack of puddings crashing to the ground and match England's three.
Steve, a veteran of past finals, kept his cool to match the leading two with a quite sensational 'bouncer' that ricocheted off the back-board to take two from the lob-side rear stack and one from the rear 'yorkwise' or western stack. Close observation revealed that the final pudding was dislodged by the merest delicate touch of the nylon swaddling... a fine example of the 'seam-lobbers' art.
The valiant champions had to throw again, this time a deft touch from Tony 'puddingmeister' Burke took two from the front lob-side stack. To roars from the visiting crowd Steve, the Welsh dragon, could only manage a limp 'wrist-break' that was at once audacious and ineffective. His score of one was enough to see him back on his way to the Valleys.
Past master, Steve, took to the grid and to the delight of the masses delivered a thumping lob that nearly took down the scaffolding and nearly matched the earlier Norwegian's efforts for sheer power and brutality. To the amazement of the watching world he took the championships to its first ever third round in a Lob-Off.
Finally, the heat took its toll on the two competitors who toiled under the Lancastrian sun, locked in the greatest pudding throwing tussle of the century. Steve scored a blank and it was left to Tony 'the Tiger' Burke to step into the limelight. Three consecutive scoring shots is that rarest of events - a 'Clog Trick' - the execution of which enables the competitor to pass their clogs around the audience. Would the first Clog Trick of the Millenium be witnessed by the spellbound thousands?
The spittle glistened on Tony's chin as he took aim with full concentration. A cunningly disguised full lob crackled through the air and before the three yorkwise puddings hit the soft Lancastrian tarmac, it was all over.
The greatest ever winning lob of the greatest ever final of the greatest ever world black pudding throwing championship by perhaps our greatest ever champion.
Will he retain his crown? Will the 2007 finals be even more gripping? There's only one way to find out. Be there on the second sunday in September 2007 for the next chapter in pudding throwing history. Swaddle yer puddings! LOB ON
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