The World Black Pudding Throwing Championship is returning to Greater Manchester this weekend

It’s that time of the year again: After a brief hiatus thanks to Covid, the World Black Pudding Throwing Championship is making its grand return to Ramsbottom this weekend. 

The premise of the event is simple – competitors hurl black puddings onto a 20ft-high plinth in a bid to dislodge a dozen Yorkshire puddings. Each participant is given three turns to try and knock down as many Yorkshire puds as they can, with the person knocking the most off being crowned the eventual winner. 

The competition, held annually on the second weekend of September, dates back to the 1980s but has origins in the historic Lancashire-Yorkshire rivalry from the 1400s; according to legend the act of lobbing black puddings is believed to derive from the War of the Roses, when the two sides allegedly resorted to throwing food at each other when their ammunition ran out.

@worldblackpudding / Facebook

Apparently black puddings were thrown by the Lancashire troops, while Yorkshire puddings were hurled back by their Yorkshire counterparts. Obviously, this is a very important piece of history so, in 1984, a decision was made to bring back the tradition by Stubbins Community Trust, and it has been an overwhelmingly popular affair ever since.

Last year, the festivities were ground to a halt as a result of the Covid pandemic but, this weekend, it is coming back with a bang (and an abundance of flying black puddings, of course).

On Sunday, September 12th, the 2021 World Black Pudding Throwing Championship will be taking place at its usual location – outside the Royal Oak Pub on Bridge Street in Ramsbottom between 11am – 4pm. The event is completely free to attend, with black pudding throwers needing to pay just £1 to take part. 

Speaking to the Bury Times, organiser Jim Cunliffe said of the comeback: “It is the just the tonic Ramsbottom needs after the last eighteen months. We have started putting the flags up and bunting will go up. The East Lancashire Railway will be supporting us and we will be having stalls.”

@worldblackpudding / Facebook

He added that measures will be put in place in the wake of Covid, with hand sanitisers placed around to limit the risk of the virus.

He said: “The event is all about bringing people to Ramsbottom, people do come from all over and supporting charities. They have really struggled during the pandemic.”

2019’s Black Pudding Throwing champion, Tom Lowden will be heading back this weekend to defend his title, so make sure you bring your A game if you’re planning on taking part. 

For more information, follow the events official Facebook page here.