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The Chilham Chase

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  • BRITAIN
May 21 2013

Chilham Castle in Kent celebrated it’s 400th anniversary over the weekend, which culminated in runners re-enacting the Dudley Digges Memorial Chase, last run over 150 years ago. In his will, Sir Dudley Digges left prize money for a race to be run each year ‘by young men and maidens of good conversation from Chilham and its surrounds’. Over time the racers became less orderly, indeed even disorderly and the Wildman family, owners of the castle at the time in true Victorian rectitude, called a stop to the proceedings! On Sunday the race got underway once again with a “bang” and […]

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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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Wife Carrying Races

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  • BRITAIN
Mar 08 2009

Win a race carrying your wife, or at least someone pretending to be your wife, and you could win your weight in beer. This typically Finnish pastime took place prior to the start of the Leith Hill Half Marathon in Surrey this morning. 6 couples entered the 200m ‘Sprint’, one of two courses on offer, with a rise of about 5m up to the half way point and then back. (There was little interest for a flatter, but much longer 1km course called the ‘Challenge’.) Few rules were laid down. You didn’t need to be a wife or a husband […]

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The Great Spitalfields Pancake Race

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  • BRITAIN
Feb 25 2009

The annual Great Spitalfields Pancake Race took place on Shrove Tuesday with teams of pancake-flipping people chasing up and down Dray Walk in the Old Truman Brewery, all in the hope of winning the coveted prize of a stunning, engraved frying pan. For those who missed out on the main prize, there was still hope… as other prizes were presented for both the best-dressed and best behaved team, as well as scrumptious pancakes for all who entered!  

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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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The 10th John Smiths Mascot Grand National

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  • BRITAIN
Oct 05 2008

As tradition has it, mascots from all over the country compete in a straight 1 furlong (220 yards) course, with 6 hurdles. It’s really not that far, but when you’re in the middle of a downpour, wearing a massive head with visibility restricted to little more than a small window of a mouth, and have sponges for feet, it’s understandably tricky. Well done to Saffron Waldon Town F.C.’s mascot, Wacky Macky Bear (Darren Forster) who came from behind to overtake the croc and lion, winning the title for the second year in a row.  

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Olney Pancake Race

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  • BRITAIN
Feb 07 2008

Traffic stops at 11.55 am on Shrove Tuesday for the ladies of Olney to make their annual 415 yard dash from the Market Place to Church. Participants, housewives or young ladies of the town, must wear the traditional costume of a housewife, including a skirt, apron and head covering and they must of course carry a frying pan containing a pancake. Under orders from the Starter, pancakes are tossed just prior to the starting signal, and only then after a flippin’ quick dash to the finishing line, is the winner again required to toss her pancake, before being declared the […]

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Bog Triathlon

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  • BRITAIN
Jul 12 2007

The same weekend sees competitors battle it out to become the World Champion Bog Snorkelling Triathlete. The race begins with a 7.5 mile run followed by a bog snorkel of 120 yards (breast stroke or crawl not permitted) and ends with a 19 mile cycle ride.  

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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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© Emma Wood 2021. Moral Rights Asserted. No part of Emma Wood's photographs may be copied or distributed by any means without her explicit permission.