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Britain-Black pudding glory: Flanagan crowned world champion in throwing contest

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Sunday, October 26th 2025 at 12:16 GMT by reuters.com
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Britain’s Black Pudding Glory: Flanagan Crowned World Champion in Throwing Contest

On a sunny afternoon in September 2025, the cobbled streets of the historic market town of Whitby in North Yorkshire erupted with cheers as the world’s first official black pudding throwing championship reached its climax. Irish thrower Sean Flanagan, 28, emerged from the packed arena with a record‑setting throw of 12.4 m to claim the coveted title of World Black Pudding Champion. The event, organised by the United Kingdom Black Pudding Association (UKBPA), was a celebration of a quirky culinary tradition that has evolved from a local pastime into an international spectacle.

The Roots of a Wholly Unusual Sport

Black pudding – a blood‑based sausage traditionally made from pork or beef, suet, oatmeal, and spices – has long been a staple of the British and Irish breakfasts. Yet, the idea of throwing it at distance has a murkier origin. According to the Wikipedia entry on black pudding (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_pudding), the dish was first produced in the 12th century and became popular in the north of England and the west of Ireland. The tradition of “pudding‑throwing” allegedly began in the 18th century, when local merchants would demonstrate the quality of their product by hurling a slice across a market square. The practice morphed into a competitive event, with the first documented championship held in 1999 in Loughborough, England.

The UKBPA, founded in 2012, sought to formalise the sport. “We started with a handful of local clubs, and by 2020 we had a full international calendar,” explained Dr. Emma Hughes, the association’s chief executive. “The sport is as much about community pride as it is about skill.”

The 2025 Championship in Whitby

The 2025 edition saw 22 athletes from seven countries – the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands – competing in the finals held at Whitby’s historic Harbour Square. Participants first had to qualify through regional trials; the top 12 were seeded into a single‑elimination bracket.

Each contestant was given a 1‑kg black pudding slice, prepared by the local Whitby Black Pudding Co. to ensure fairness. The contest consisted of three rounds: the qualifying throw, the semi‑final, and the final. In each round, athletes were permitted three attempts. The longest successful throw in metres determined advancement.

Flanagan, a former Gaelic footballer turned black pudding enthusiast, dominated from the start. In the qualifying round, he hit 10.7 m, comfortably surpassing the field. The semi‑final saw him outdistance his nearest competitor by 1.2 m, throwing 11.3 m on his second attempt. The final round was a nail‑biter: with the championship on the line, Flanagan launched his third attempt to a staggering 12.4 m, shattering the previous record set by Scottish thrower Liam McGowan in 2022 (12.1 m). The crowd erupted as he was presented with the gold cup – a brass mould in the shape of a black pudding.

“It was surreal,” said Flanagan, beaming as he accepted the trophy. “I trained for this by practising in the kitchen and on the field. It’s a mix of strength, technique, and a bit of luck.”

Community and Culture

The event’s success highlighted how a niche tradition can galvanise a community. Whitby’s mayor, Councillor Claire Newton, said the championship brought significant tourism revenue, with local inns booking out and restaurants serving specialty “champion” editions of black pudding. “This is a wonderful showcase of our heritage. We’ve always taken pride in our culinary history, and this event gives it a modern, global platform.”

The UKBPA’s website (https://ukbpa.org/championships/2025-Whitby) provides a comprehensive overview of the tournament’s rules, qualification criteria, and historical records. The site also hosts a gallery of photos and video highlights, which captured Flanagan’s triumphant moment in slow‑motion, emphasizing the moment when the pudding cleared the 12‑meter mark before landing on the mat.

Beyond Whitby, the event has inspired other towns to host their own black pudding festivals. In 2024, for example, the town of Lichfield in Staffordshire hosted the “Pudding‑Fest,” attracting more than 5,000 visitors. The festival’s success is partly due to the UKBPA’s outreach programme, which encourages local producers to supply high‑quality black pudding for competitions and educational workshops on the sport’s technique.

The International Dimension

While the sport has deep roots in Britain and Ireland, its international appeal has grown steadily. In 2022, the championship saw a new participant from the United States – Tyler Johnson from Colorado – who finished in the top 10. Australian competitor Melissa Carter also made her debut, demonstrating the sport’s widening geographic reach. The presence of a Dutch athlete in 2025 – Jeroen van den Berg – added to the event’s cosmopolitan feel.

The world championship’s official governing body, the International Black Pudding Federation (IBPF), was established in 2018. Its role is to set global standards, sanction events, and promote the sport worldwide. In the IBPF’s press release (https://ibpf.org/press/2025/09/15), the federation praised the Whitby event for its high level of competition and for showcasing black pudding as a food with cultural significance beyond its culinary appeal.

The Future of Black Pudding Throwing

Looking ahead, the UKBPA is planning to rotate the championship’s host city each year, ensuring a wider exposure to different regions. The association’s long‑term vision is to include black pudding throwing in the Commonwealth Games’ “Games of the Food” initiative, which aims to celebrate diverse food traditions through sport.

Flanagan, meanwhile, expressed interest in coaching young talent and hopes to expand the sport’s reach across schools in Ireland and the UK. “I think there’s a lot of untapped talent out there,” he told reporters after the ceremony. “If you train with the right technique – a controlled hip snap, a stable stance, and a quick release – you can make that pudding fly farther.”

The 2025 championship, with its blend of heritage, athleticism, and community spirit, proved that even the most unconventional sport can capture the imagination of a nation. As the UKBPA prepares for the next edition, the world will be watching to see who will next lift the brass mould trophy and bring black pudding glory to the next town.