One of Britain's fiercest rivalries will be reignited today (Sun) - at the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships. The annual event sees competitors knocking Yorkshire puddings off a 20ft-high plinth with black pudding. Legend has it the tradition dates back to the War of the Roses and a 1455 battle in Stubbins, Lancs., between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. The two sides are said to have run out of ammunition and resorted to throwing food at each other - black pudding from Lancashire and Yorkshire puddings from the white rose county. The event was revived in the 1980s and now sees thousands flock to the market town of Ramsbottom, near Bury, to battle it out for the world champion crown. Competitors hurl the local delicacy onto a 20ft-high plinth in a bid to dislodge a dozen Yorkshire puddings. Participants stand on a golden grid in the town centre and have three attempts to knock down as many as possible with an underarm lob. Previous competitions have been won by competitors from as far away as Turkey and Australia. Organisers said they didn’t want to cancel the event, which draws competitors from all over the world, following The Queen’s death - but said they will pay their respects.
