Eccentric British folk sports

*Haggis hurling or throwing – A Scottish game involving throwing a haggis. [http://www.lighthousethinking.com/what/learning/content/showme/index.htm Modern Haggis Hurling] is judged on the basis of distance and accuracy of the hurl and a split or burst haggis is immediately disqualified, as the haggis must be fit to eat after landing. The sport requires subtle technique rather than brute force, as the hurl must result in a gentle landing to keep the haggis skin intact. There is a World Haggis Hurling Championship. Haggis Hurling was even supposed to be presented as a demonstration sport at the 2004 Summer Olympics.Fact|date=July 2008 Plans to use a fake haggis in a hurling competition at a Highland festival in Melbourne have split the purists from those who are fearful of the mess a high-speed impacting may cause (see [http://heritage.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=43&id=136042004 Haggis gets a bashing from fakes] ). According to a Canadian [http://www.durham.net/~neilmac/games.htm source] that disapproves the practice as insensible, the haggis is the main event at the annual Burns Night celebrations held by Scots and Scottish wannabees the world over.

* Welly/Wellie wanging or throwing - A freestyle sport that originated in England, most likely in the county of Yorkshire.Fact|date=July 2008 Competitors are required to hurl a Wellington boot as far as possible within boundary lines, from a standing or running start. Each player has three throws, the longest distance thrown within the zone wins.

* Aunt SallyFact|date=July 2008 – An Oxfordshire game it is the under arm throwing of the dolly (a truncheon shaped stick) at a suspended target. Each player in the team has 6 throws. The best score out of 24 wins.
* Wheelbarrow and Straw Bale RaceFact|date=July 2008 – Each player in the team races over 50 yards with 4 straw bales on the barrow, then tosses the bales over a 6ft height bar. The quickest team wins.

* Barrel WalkingFact|date=July 2008 – To stand on top of a small barrel and walk it forward. The distance walked before falling off is taken, the largest collective distance of a team is the winner.

* People HerdingFact|date=July 2008 – A group of three people are blindfolded and each holds onto a central hoop. The fourth member of the team has a whistle, one short blast move to the left, two short blasts move to the right, a long continuing blast move forward. The object is to direct the hooped group through a gate or gatepost. The shortest time taken is the winning team.

* Duck HerdingFact|date=July 2008 – Very similar to people herding, only its ducks through the gate.

* Darf HerdingFact|date=July 2008 - The same principle as people and duck herding only executed with a "Darf" (a cigarette-end).

* Coconut Shy – Each player has 6 balls to throw at targets of coconuts balanced on raised stands. The player with the highest number of hits wins.

* Tip CatFact|date=July 2008 – The cat is a stubby six-inch projectile tapered at each end. It is placed on a flat surface. A baseball bat is then used to tap or hit it airborne, as it rises it is then hit again with the baseball bat, as far as possible. Each player has three attempts; the team with the longest hit within the zone wins.

* Cheese-Rolling - During the annual Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, competitors race down a steep hill in Gloucestershire, attempting to catch a Double Gloucester cheese which has been set rolling from the top. Often this results in many injuries. [citeweb |url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/columnists/top3/story/4194065p-4785192c.html |title=Forget summertime fun: It's dangerous out there |author=Doug Speirs |publisher=Winnipeg Free Press |accessdate=2008-07-29]

References

External links and references

* [http://www.lighthousethinking.com/what/learning/content/showme/index.htm A Lost Tradition – Haggis hurling]
* [http://www.craft-show.co.uk/pentathlon.htm Living Heritage Pentathlon Challenge 2005]