Black pudding challenge for radio’s Chris Evans

Council leader Mike Connolly has issued a challenge to radio star Chris Evans – come and take on our famous black puddings!

Cllr Connolly was the mystery guest on Chris’s show this morning (Tuesday 25 June), and talked about some of the things that make Bury a great place, including Bury Market and the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships in Ramsbottom.

Chris, who presents the Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2, revealed that he used to have a second-hand stall on Bury Market years ago.

Cllr Connolly said: “We had great laugh and a cracking chat – and, of course, the black pudding championships were a highlight of our conversation. Celebrities such as Paddy McGuiness and the Hairy Bikers have already taken part in this famous annual challenge, and we’re hoping that Chris will take up our invitation and give it a go in September.

“In the meantime, we have arranged for Chris to receive a parcel of Bury black puddings to give him a taste of what’s to come!”

The next World Black Pudding Throwing Championships take place in Ramsbottom on 8 September 2013.

Each competitor stands at the Golden Grid and throws three regulation Bury black puddings at a stack of Yorkshire puddings which are balanced on a 20ft high platform. The winner is the competitor who dislodges the most Yorkshires.

The event is thought to originate from an incident during the War of the Roses when, having run out of ammunition, the armies threw food at each other.

You can hear Cllr Connolly’s interview with Chris Evans’s on the BBC’s iPlayer at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b02yhz1t

ENDS

Press release issued: 25 June 2013.

Picture attached: Cllr Mike Connolly and the Hairy Bikers at the 2011 World Black Pudding Throwing Championships.