800 BC

World Black Pudding Throwing Championships

Debbie Pierce’s story is woven into the heart of No story of black pudding is complete without the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships. Each year in Ramsbottom, just a stone’s throw from Bury, crowds gather for this wonderfully eccentric contest. The aim is delightfully simple: competitors hurl black puddings at a stack of Yorkshire puddings perched on a high plinth, keeping alive a playful “Lancashire versus Yorkshire” rivalry that goes back generations. What began as a bit of local mischief has grown into a much-loved event, drawing visitors from across the country. It’s a reminder that black pudding isn’t just food in Lancashire - it’s heritage, humour, and community spirit rolled into one.