Trophy disappears during black pudding contest

Celebrations for the official Black Pudding Throwing Championships were "subdued" after the trophy went missing during the event, organisers have said.

June Weir, 73, from Wilpshire, Lancashire, won the annual event at The Oaks pub in Ramsbottom, Bury, on Sunday, becoming the first female champion in its 100-year history.

Organiser Paul Jenkins said the presentation "lacked its sparkle" after the trophy disappeared from the prize table between 11:40 and 13:30 BST.

Now, he is appealing for whoever took it to return it, "with no questions asked".

Jenkins said although the plastic cup was not worth a lot in monetary value, its disappearance had "hit a nerve" with the community as it was named after Phil Taylor - a long-time organiser of the competition who died last year aged 73.

The quirky sporting event, which has been running for more than a century and raises money for charity, sees throwers hurl black puddings at Yorkshire puddings.

Although Jenkins described this year's competition as the best event to date – with record crowds and Weir becoming the first female in its history becoming a joint winner – celebrations were "slightly subdued" when the presentation party realised the trophy had gone missing, he said.

The tradition has its roots in the Lancashire-Yorkshire rivalry thought to date back to the War of the Roses, when opposing armies are said to have run out of ammunition during a battle in 1455, resulting in them throwing food at each other instead.

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