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Strange contests to draw crowds | Strange contests to draw crowds |
(about 16 hours later) | |
By Tom Warren BBC News | By Tom Warren BBC News |
Winners of the Dunmow trials are carried through the streets | Winners of the Dunmow trials are carried through the streets |
Every four years couples gather in the Essex village of Great Dunmow to convince a group of complete strangers that their marriage is not on the rocks. | Every four years couples gather in the Essex village of Great Dunmow to convince a group of complete strangers that their marriage is not on the rocks. |
For the lucky pairs who manage to persuade the "jury" that their nuptials are the real deal they are paraded through the streets and a "flitch" of bacon awaits as a prize. | For the lucky pairs who manage to persuade the "jury" that their nuptials are the real deal they are paraded through the streets and a "flitch" of bacon awaits as a prize. |
The Flitch Trials is thought to date back to the 12th Century and is one of several unusual events taking place around England this weekend. | The Flitch Trials is thought to date back to the 12th Century and is one of several unusual events taking place around England this weekend. |
Graeme Wade, from the organising committee, said the event was so popular that a selection panel was needed to choose the five lucky couples who are taking part on Saturday. | Graeme Wade, from the organising committee, said the event was so popular that a selection panel was needed to choose the five lucky couples who are taking part on Saturday. |
"I think in our electronic age, something as traditional as this that goes back so many centuries captures the imagination," he said. | "I think in our electronic age, something as traditional as this that goes back so many centuries captures the imagination," he said. |
We had a little bit of a hiccup when the committee decided to ban pea shooters with sights. We also had some laser-guided ones John Wells, World Pea Shooting Championship | We had a little bit of a hiccup when the committee decided to ban pea shooters with sights. We also had some laser-guided ones John Wells, World Pea Shooting Championship |
"The flitch of bacon is half a pig that's been cured. It was deemed to be a fantastic prize in the days when meat was known to be very expensive." | "The flitch of bacon is half a pig that's been cured. It was deemed to be a fantastic prize in the days when meat was known to be very expensive." |
The jury is made up of "six maids and six bachelors" and the couples on trial must have been married for at least a year and day. | The jury is made up of "six maids and six bachelors" and the couples on trial must have been married for at least a year and day. |
It is the kind of quirky event that captures the spirit of the English summer, particularly with visitors from abroad. | It is the kind of quirky event that captures the spirit of the English summer, particularly with visitors from abroad. |
Some competitors use "laser-guided" pea shooters | Some competitors use "laser-guided" pea shooters |
"We had four applications from the USA this time," Mr Wade said. | "We had four applications from the USA this time," Mr Wade said. |
"Ticket sales for the afternoon and evening trials have gone really well, we're expecting several hundred people. | "Ticket sales for the afternoon and evening trials have gone really well, we're expecting several hundred people. |
"Throughout the whole day from 10am to 10pm we're hoping for many thousands of locals to be paying us a visit." | "Throughout the whole day from 10am to 10pm we're hoping for many thousands of locals to be paying us a visit." |
Row over shooters | Row over shooters |
In nearby Cambridgeshire, organisers of the World Pea Shooting Championship in Witcham are hoping for similar interest in their quirky event, also taking place throughout Saturday. | In nearby Cambridgeshire, organisers of the World Pea Shooting Championship in Witcham are hoping for similar interest in their quirky event, also taking place throughout Saturday. |
Several years ago there was a row over "modified" shooters, including the use of lasers to help guide the peas. | Several years ago there was a row over "modified" shooters, including the use of lasers to help guide the peas. |
But this has now been resolved, said John Wells from the committee. | But this has now been resolved, said John Wells from the committee. |
"We've been running it since the 1970s. It started from a village school situation where a teacher was reprimanding some of the pupils for pea shooting in class," he said. | "We've been running it since the 1970s. It started from a village school situation where a teacher was reprimanding some of the pupils for pea shooting in class," he said. |
"We had a little bit of a hiccup when the committee decided to ban pea shooters with sights. We also had some laser-guided ones. | "We had a little bit of a hiccup when the committee decided to ban pea shooters with sights. We also had some laser-guided ones. |
Teams of five take part in the two-hour race | Teams of five take part in the two-hour race |
"The person who was most against the advanced sights left the village and we decided to have open competition again." | "The person who was most against the advanced sights left the village and we decided to have open competition again." |
Mr Wells said the contest had grown in popularity in recent years. | Mr Wells said the contest had grown in popularity in recent years. |
"I think it's the quirkiness really and it's origin that appeals to people. | "I think it's the quirkiness really and it's origin that appeals to people. |
"Lots of people who have been previous champions carry on." | "Lots of people who have been previous champions carry on." |
On Sunday more than 5,000 people are expected to turn out to watch the British Pedal Car Grand Prix, in Ringwood, Hampshire, branded as the real life "wacky races". | On Sunday more than 5,000 people are expected to turn out to watch the British Pedal Car Grand Prix, in Ringwood, Hampshire, branded as the real life "wacky races". |
Thirty-six teams of five will battle it out for two hours in the New Forest town to see who can complete the most laps of the circuit. | |
The event takes place every other year as part of the Ringwood Festival. | The event takes place every other year as part of the Ringwood Festival. |
Organiser Cliff Polton said: "It's the Monaco grand prix without the yachts or the fuel. The crowds are phenomenal we normally get about 5,000." | Organiser Cliff Polton said: "It's the Monaco grand prix without the yachts or the fuel. The crowds are phenomenal we normally get about 5,000." |
Some of the teams have spent the last year carefully designing and building their pedal cars in the hope of victory. | Some of the teams have spent the last year carefully designing and building their pedal cars in the hope of victory. |
And there is fierce competition among some of the entrants, he said. | And there is fierce competition among some of the entrants, he said. |
There is even a chicane near the local supermarket. | There is even a chicane near the local supermarket. |
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