A Wolverhampton man became two-time world champion at the Black Pudding Throwing Championship in Ramsbottom yesterday.
After having previously won the iconic event – which is held annually in Ramsbottom town centre – in 2018, Andrew Ferrier once again clinched the title and was crowned the winner in front of hundreds of spectators.
Mr Ferrier was the first winner since 2019, as the championships were cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
If you’re unfamiliar with what the World Black Pudding Throwing Championship actually is, the rather unique and traditionally northern event sees competitors knock over Yorkshire puddings on a 20ft-high plinth with a Bury black pudding.
Participants stand on a golden grid and have three attempts to knock down as many Yorkshire puddings as possible by throwing the black puddings underarm.
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The unique event sees competitors knock over Yorkshire puddings on a 20ft-high plinth with a Bury black pudding / Credit: The Manc Group
Legend has it that the tradition of lobbing black puddings dates back to the War of the Roses and a 1455 battle in Stubbins, between the House of Lancaster and the House of York, where the two sides are said to have run out of ammunition and resorted to throwing food at each other.
The House of Lancaster’s choice of food weapon was black pudding, while the House of York picked Yorkshire puddings from the white rose county.
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The competition was revived in the 1980s, and now sees thousands flock to Ramsbottom to battle it out for the crown.
Previous winners have come from as far away as Turkey and Australia.
After winning this year’s prestigious contest, Mr Ferrier was presented with a Yorkshire pudding crown and a silver trophy.
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The competition sees thousands flock to Ramsbottom to battle it out for the crown / Credit: The Manc Group
Speaking on the successful return of the World Black Pudding Throwing Championship in 2021, event organiser Jim Cunliffe told the MEN: “It was sad to have to cancel it last year, but it’s great it was able to go ahead this year.
“After the year everyone has had, it’s great to see crowds back and people having a good time.
“Due to COVID and travel restrictions, we haven’t got the usual international visitors we get, but we’ve got people coming from around the country.
“Past winners come and join in, it’s just fun and it’s great to see.”
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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Home Bargains has announced a special two-day closure of all UK stores
Emily Sergeant
Home Bargains has, once again, announced it’ll be closing all its UK stores on both Boxing Day and New Year’s Day this year.
And it’s to make sure staff get a ‘well deserved break’.
After what has been yet another busy year for the retail industry, many workers have been left feeling like they could do with a little extra time off, which is why Home Bargains is following on with what has become a now-annual tradition by shutting up shop on two bank holidays.
All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day & New Years Day.
Announcing the move in a post on social media, the discount retailer confirmed: “All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day and New Years Day. We would like to thank all our colleagues for how hard you have worked this past year, and want you to relax and enjoy the Christmas break with your loved ones.”
Of course, this isn’t the first time the retailer has kept its doors shut on bank holidays.
Many shoppers will recall it has made the same decision to give hardworking staff a break every year since 2019.
Explaining a little more about the decision taken to close all its stores, Home Bargains said: “As a family-run business, we know the importance of being together at Christmas with those we care about most, now more than ever.
“This is our way of saying thank you to our colleagues for their continued hard work and dedication.”
Featured Image – Geograph
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Two Greggs in Manchester will be serving their breakfast menu in the evening next week
Emily Sergeant
Who says breakfast has to end at 11am?
In news that’s set to be music to the ears of breakfast lovers in Manchester, Greggs is giving them exactly what they want.
We all know that brunch is a ‘thing’ by now, so now it’s time for brinner to make a name for itself instead, as Greggs has teamed up with Heinz to bring its much-loved breakfast menu back for tea time, kicking off from 4pm onwards.
The move comes as a new survey has found that the majority of Mancs (69%) admit to enjoying eating breakfast food in the evening, saying it’s ‘convenient and comforting’ – even ranking breakfast as a ‘more important’ meal than tea, as well (38% vs 36%).
Two Greggs in Manchester will be serving their breakfast menu in the evening next week / Credit: Greggs (Supplied)
Greggs says it has ‘lost count’ of the amount of customers that have tried to order breakfast items after the usual cut-off time, especially in Greater Manchester.
But luckily for those breakfast-loving Mancs, they can finally get their favourite breakfast and sauce pairing long after the morning rush is over next… but only at two Greggs branches, and only for a very limited time.
On Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 October, the Heinz x Greggs Brinner collab will be available at Greggs St Mary’s Gate and Greggs Oxford Road, from 4-7pm only.
“We’ve lost count of the number of customers who have tried their luck ordering breakfast after 11am, so when Heinz came to us with the idea of making Brinner a reality, it felt like the perfect excuse to give the people what they want,” explained Zoe Harris, who is the Customer Director at Greggs.
“And let’s be honest, a Greggs Bacon Roll just wouldn’t be the same without a squeeze of Heinz Tomato Ketchup.”
Emily Sergeant -
13th September 2021 
