In weather more suited to sandals than wellies, competitors from 6 to 60+ took up the challenge (and the boot) in the World Wellington Boot Throwing Championships at Court Fields School last weekend. One or two throws may have failed to hit the target area but none caused lasting damage, even to the scouts whose job it was to collect them, and the majority were called legitimate by the men with measures.
The event attracted competitors from as far away as Ireland – winners of their own welly-wanging competition – although most were more local. A large appreciative crowd was treated to some impressive and good-humoured welly-throwing alongside more than thirty stalls, a hog roast, Quantock Brewery beer, donuts, a huge bouncy castle, a play centre and activities for children, candy floss, sweets, flowers and an impressive display of Harley Davidson bikes brought along by the Bridgwater Chapter whose Director, Gill Mogg, explained: “We raise between £4,000 and £5,000 a year for charity through raffles and donations. We’re due to take part in the Wellington Carnival on 28th September and so we were invited to bring our bikes along today.”
Wellington Mayor Gloria Copley opened the competition and paid tribute to the hard work of the team responsible for putting together this fifth World Championships. She was presented with a bouquet by organiser Sue White before launching the first boot. Wellington Majorettes helped to get everyone in the mood for a good afternoon before throwing began and the winners of each class were presented with their trophies by Olympic Trap World Cup Winner and British Champion shooter Abbey Burton.
The team expressed satisfaction with the day. One organiser said, “The number of competitors has been as good as ever and there’s been a great crowd here today. We’ve raised money from the raffle and we have some new World Wellington Boot Throwing Champions.”
Winners in each class were: Adult Male: John Odea; Adult Female: Lauren Fellows; Team: George St Massive; Over 60s: N. Hollingshead; Disabled: Melissa Foster; U16 Boys: Lee Nightingill; U16 Girls: Bonita Walls; U10 Boys: Joe Thorne; U10 Girls: Poppy Hutchings; U6: Sam Manvell.
Report & Photos: Gill Paltridge