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Heroes Run

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  • BRITAIN
Apr 03 2012

Clapham Common had to be the safest place on the planet this Sunday, as 436 superheroes of every conceivable description descended on the park for the 1st ever London Heroes Run. Organised by charity ‘Pass It On Africa,’ who help build schools and support education in Africa, the run takes place in Brighton every Summer, but this was the first time they came to London. I have no idea which superhero was the fastest to complete the 10km course that zig-zagged round the common. Etiquette certainly prevented any flying as I didn’t see Superman or Buzz Lightyear cheat by taking […]

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Brighton Santa Dash

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  • BRITAIN
Dec 12 2011

Santas. Hundreds of them. Some in a dash, some taking a more leisurely pace, or taking their dogs for a run, on what turned out to be a fine winter morning this Saturday for 5km along the seafront in Brighton/Hove. All in aid of a good cause, money raised through the entry fee and individual sponsorship to go to Passing it On, a charity that helps to build schools in Africa.

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Backward Run

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  • BRITAIN
Jul 18 2011

  There was a mixed 3km & 1km backward race with cash prizes for the first 3 places, followed by a backwards fun run/walk for those looking to raise money for their favourite charities. The course, a 1km stretch round Crystal Palace Park included a stretch of up hill, downhill, a fair few winding corners, a drop to one side of the path, bollards, signposts and litter bins, not to mention members of the general public walking their dogs. In short, plenty to trip you up when you’re not looking where you’re going! Worth the risk it would seem when Garret […]

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Mappleton New Year’s Day Bridge Jump

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  • BRITAIN
Jan 01 2009

I’m not so sure this is a very good way to clear your head after a heavy night, but 50 competitors would appear to disagree as they leaped feet first into the New Year for charity. 25 teams of 2, in separate races for men and women, braved the freezing water to paddle boats quarter of a mile down the river to Mappleton Bridge, climb up the bank, jump 30ft off the parapet, swim ashore and run across a field to the pub for a hot cup of soup. The perfect accompaniment for hypothermia and appropriately money raised will benefit […]

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The Great Christmas Pudding Race

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  • BRITAIN
Dec 07 2008

London’s Great Christmas Pudding Race has taken place in Covent Garden every December since 1980, on Saturday the 28th race took place. Teams from universities and companies negotiate an It’s-A-Knockout-style, 150 metre course balancing a Christmas pudding on a tray. They have to navigate inflatables, obstacles, balloons filled with flour and jets of foam. To complicate things further, they do it all in fancy dress and add a Mr. Potato Head style stick-on facial feature at each stage throughout the course. A goofy Mrs. Pudding Head demonstrated here prior to the Official ‘Royal’ opening by HM the Queen. The race […]

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The London Santa Run

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  • BRITAIN
Dec 07 2008

I really don’t think running is much fun, I did try it once. But put runners into fancy dress for a charity event, and I can begin to see the appeal. In the run up to Christmas there are Santa’s coming together throughout the country to do their bit. Un/Fortunately I needed to save my energy to take pictures, but for spectators and runners alike, there is undoubtedly a great hilarity to watching over 2000 Santa Claus, (a cheeky elf and a Jack Russell) of all different ages and physiques running together. Battersea was home to The London Santa Run […]

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Pantomime Horse Grand National

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  • BRITAIN
Dec 03 2008

Over 40 competitors took part in a parody of the traditional Aintree Grand National race on Sunday afternoon in Birmingham’s Centenary Square. To kick off the event, jockeys took part in a pre-race parade to show off their steeds, with names such as ‘Neigh’ Chance’ ‘Good for Glue (but not a lot else)’ and ‘Why the Long Face’, to spectators and anyone inclined to take a flutter. Once the bets were placed it was time for the two races – one for fillies (girls) and the other for colts (boys). Both around the same grueling 12-jump obstacle course, all of […]

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The Great British Duck Race

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  • BRITAIN
Aug 31 2008

250,000 plastic ducks took part in a ‘race’ along a 1km stretch of the River Thames near Hampton Court Palace in London this afternoon. Ducks were sponsored for £2 each with the money going to charity, and the person sponsoring the fastest duck scooping a £10,000 cash prize. The organisers hope to raise £500,000 for charity and win a place in the Guinness Book of Records by beating their own previous record of 165,000 ducks, set last year. Quackers!    

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The Maldon Mud Race

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  • BRITAIN
Dec 30 2007

Mud, mud, glorious mud… People came from miles around to Promenade Park in Maldon to take part in, or watch what has to be the most popular, messiest event in Britain today. 181 brave souls, many wearing fancy dress, tackled the mud and chilly water to drag themselves across the River Blackwater estuary, to raise money for charities. To stand any chance of winning, the key to the race is to be at the front of the field from the start, so you get through the mud before it’s too badly churned up. The race leaders made it to the […]

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World Conker Championships

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  • BRITAIN
Oct 15 2007

Around 400 competitors gathered to have a crack at each other’s nuts on Sunday at the World Conker Championships in Ashton, Peterborough. Perhaps someone had cast a spell over the French this weekend? Adding insult to injury after the rugby defeat, Ady Hurrell was crowned the King of Conkers by defeating runner-up John Ingram, who led the French team! The rules are simple. Each player is given a “Competition-standard” conker attached to a piece of lace and takes turns in trying to break their opponent’s nut using a swinging motion. The world tournament came about after a group of local […]

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About this blog

The vast majority of posts in this blog are about quirky & eccentric competitions & festivals. I started it in 2006 in France with a competition I’ll never forget. Where contestants battle it out to become the World Champion Pig Squeeler, or ‘Cri du Cochon’. I had little knowledge back then of quite how far my pursuit of these kind of events would lead me. I’ve travelled all over Britain (and occasionally further afield) to capture our curiosities and quirks. There’s nothing uniquely eccentric about the British, you’ll find people all over the world up to all sorts of weird and wonderful activities, but we do have a remarkable capacity to embrace the madness. ‘A Brit Different’ is the book that was born from it, my labour of love! So what next? There’s always something interesting going on, so watch this space, only time will tell!

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