Can Phil and Holly match the new black pudding throwing world record?

Forget cheese rolling and worm charming, events don't get any weirder than The World Black Pudding Throwing Championship! This year’s competition was held on Sunday 14th of September in Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester.

Black pudding maker Tony Sinacola, from Chadwicks Original Bury Blackpuddings, is joined by black pudding throwing champion Huseyin Ozluk, to explain more about the event and encourage Phil and Holly to have a go!

The competition celebrates the ancient rivalry between Lancashire and Yorkshire. Legend has it that the competition is based on an incident during the Wars of the Roses (1455-87), when both armies ran out of ammunition and threw food at each other. Says Tony "There's always a rivalry between us, in cricket, rugby league... we're just carrying it on!”

The rules are simple; each competitor is given three black puddings to hurl at a stack of large Yorkshire puddings – whoever knocks down the most, wins!

The black puddings are made especially for the event. Tony explains “We cook about 500 on the morning of the competition and tie them up in ladies’ tights which makes them not only aerodynamic, it also stops them splattering!”

There were 1,100 contestants this year and an estimated 10,000 spectators. Tony says “We have all sorts of entrants, from young children to OAPs, the local bobby even throws the first pudding."

Huseyin Ozluk, originally from Turkey, moved to Ramsbottom eight months ago after marrying a local woman. He took this year’s Black Pudding throwing championship by storm by not only coming first, but breaking the current world record of eight Yorkshire puddings by knocking down nine. Says Huseyin "I am thrilled to have not only won but also get a world record".

In 2002 the event organisers petitioned for black pudding throwing to be a demonstration sport at that year’s Commonwealth Games in Manchester, and this year they have written to Sebastian Coe to ask if it can be a sport at the 2012 Olympics. They’ve yet to hear back!