Welly wanging
{{Short description|Sport involving throwing a Wellington boot}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
File:Wellie Wanging. One handed forward throw method.JPG
Welly throwing, also known as welly hoying, welly wanging and boot throwing, is a sport in which competitors are required to throw a Wellington boot as far as possible.{{Cite book|title=Crown and People|first=Philip|last=Ziegler|publisher=Harper Collins|year=1978|isbn=978-0-002-11373-1|page=186|authorlink=Philip Ziegler}}{{Cite news|title=Bizarre sporting moments|work=The Sunday Times|location=London|date=29 April 2001|page=5|first=Roland|last=White}} The sport appears to have originated in the West Country of England in the 1970s, and rapidly became a popular activity at village fêtes and fundraising events across Britain.{{Cite book|title=Record Breakers of The Air|first=Rupert|last=Matthews|page=[https://archive.org/details/recordbreakersof00matt/page/31 31]|publisher=Troll Associates|year=1990|isbn=0816719217|url=https://archive.org/details/recordbreakersof00matt/page/31}}{{Cite news|title=Pulling the wool with a shade|work=The Times|location=London|date=14 May 1987|first=Pearson|last=Phillips}}{{Cite news|title=Country strife|first=Roland|last=White|work=The Sunday Times|location=London|date=4 April 1999|page=10}}{{Cite book|title=Straight From the Force's Mouth|first=Dave|last=Prowse|authorlink=David Prowse|publisher=Apex Publishing|year=2011|isbn=978-1-907-79299-1|page=21}}{{Cite book|title=Don't Tell I, Tell 'Ee!|page=[https://archive.org/details/donttellitelleea00evan/page/73 73]|first=Roger|last=Evans|year=2005|publisher=Countryside Books|isbn=978-1-853-06916-1|url=https://archive.org/details/donttellitelleea00evan/page/73}}
Rules
Depending on local custom, different rules are applied to the sport. In parts of Somerset, for example, the boot is filled with water before being thrown. Some competitions allow a run up before releasing the boot, while others require the throw to be made from a standing position—which may be enforced by making the thrower stand in an empty dustbin.{{cite book|title=A Delicious Slice Of Johnners|first=Brian|last=Johnston|authorlink=Brian Johnston|pages=243–244|publisher=Virgin Books|year=2000|isbn=978-0-753-50509-0}}{{cite book|title=The Best of Britain|last=Leitch|first=Michael|year=1978|publisher=Chartwell Books|isbn=0890091471|page=[https://archive.org/details/bestofbritain00leit/page/54 54]|url=https://archive.org/details/bestofbritain00leit/page/54}} In Welbury, North Yorkshire, the size of the boot thrown must be large enough to comfortably fit the foot of the thrower.{{cite news|date=14 September 2012|title=Welly wanging world record tumbles|work=The Northern Echo|location=Darlington|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9930170.Welly_wanging_world_record_tumbles/|accessdate=10 June 2018}} Other competitions, such as the Upperthon Welly Wanging Championships{{cite web|url=https://upperthong.org.uk/welly-wanging|title=Upperthong, West Yorkshire Welly Wanging World Championships|accessdate=1 September 2023}} specify the size of the boot and the manufacturer.
Associations
A number of associations have been formed to govern the sport, including the International Boot Throwing Association (based in Helsinki, Finland), the World Welly Wanging Association (Upperthong, UK), the World Welly Throwing Association (Settle, UK), the World Wellington Boot Throwing Association (Wellington, UK) and the New Zealand Boot Throwing Association (Taihape, New Zealand).
Records
The first world record throw recognised by Guinness World Records was {{convert|52.73|m|ft}}, set by Tony Rodgers in Wiltshire, UK, in 1978, using a size 8 Dunlop "Challenger" boot.{{cite book|title=Beat The Record|page=32|first=James|last=Harrison|year=1986|publisher=Guinness Superlatives|isbn=0851128297|url=https://archive.org/details/beatrecord00harr|url-access=registration}} The current world records are {{convert|63.98|m|ft}} for men, set by Teppo Luoma of Finland in 1996, and {{convert|40.87|m|ft}} for women set by Sari Tirkkon, also of Finland and also in 1996.{{cite news|title=We have a go at 'welly wanging' as Bonnybridge gala day attempts to break world record|first=Murray|last=Scougall|date=6 August 2017|work=The Sunday Post|location=Dundee|url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/video-go-welly-wanging-bonnybridge-gala-day-attempts-break-world-record/|accessdate=10 June 2018}}
Gumboot day
{{More citations needed section|date=July 2020}}
File:Ortseingang Taihape November 2016.jpg
Gumboot Day is a celebration in Taihape, in New Zealand. It occurs the Tuesday after Easter, and has been a regular event since 1985. It is a celebration of all things to do with gumboots, and includes the gumboot throwing contest.
The aim of the festival is to break the world record for the longest gumboot throw. It is a family event, which includes a number of other competitions such as the best-dressed gumboot and ‘shoot the loop’ with gumboots. Gumboots can also be tossed skyward on any day of the year in the official Gumboot throwing lane{{cite web|url=http://www.jasons.co.nz/manawatu-whanganui|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100905180104/http://www.jasons.co.nz/manawatu-whanganui|url-status=usurped|archive-date=5 September 2010|title=Manawatu and Whanganui Region |publisher=Jasons Travel Media}} located in the 'Outback', just behind Taihape's main shopping centre.
In 2019, a mental health care fundraiser was held on Gumboot Day.{{cite web|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/04/vulnerable-and-broken-mike-king-s-plea-for-mental-health-profiling-to-stop.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510015150/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/04/vulnerable-and-broken-mike-king-s-plea-for-mental-health-profiling-to-stop.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 May 2019|title='Vulnerable and broken': Mike King's plea for mental health profiling to stop|last=Webb-Liddall|first=Alice|accessdate=7 October 2019}}
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://bootthrowing.net/online/paatapahtuma/?lan=EN International Boot Throwing Association]
- [http://www.upperthong.org.uk/ Welly Wanging World Championships in Upperthong]
- [http://www.thisismalvern.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1772481.mostviewed.welly_wanging_raises_funds.php Article on welly wanging as fund raiser]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070212020505/http://www.rangitikei.com/events.asp Taihape's World Gumboot Throwing Festival]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070212020505/http://www.rangitikei.com/events.asp Rangitikei local events]
Category: Annual events in New Zealand
Category: Sport in New Zealand