World Coal carrying championships

[sbowler579]

Wanted to get out and test the new Sigma 70-200 F2.8 so dragged the ever enthusuastic GF to Gawthorpe, nr Ossett, west yorkshire. Every easter monday for the past 47years contestants race from the Roayal Oak pub to the mapole on the village green in Gawthorpe. Each person must carry a sack of "coil" as locals call it, or coal to everyone else. The distance is almost a mile and the course record is 4min 6seconds for the men, and 5min 6seconds for the ladies. The sack of coal wieghs in at 50kg, I think its 25kg for the ladies.

The start line.

A few streches before the off.

A cheer for the TV before the off.

Credit to this fella for completing the course in this outfit.

Local TV and reporter filmed the event for the evening news.

The ladies event winner, a new record of 5min 6seconds.

 

[sbowler579]

And a few more.

The ladies line up for the start.

Loading up coal from the wagon.

Puffing and panting.

Feeling the pain now.

 

[Photodiva]

Only in the once coal mining area! Brave lot. I'd happily race carrrying a bag of North Sea Gas, LOL. Did they get to keep the coal, or was that the prize?

 

[hjwatso1]

Awesome! It makes me proud to be Yorkshire! We have proper sports up there.

 

[Photodiva]

Awesome! It makes me proud to be Yorkshire! We have proper sports up there.

I thought the regional sport was Ecky Thump

 

[hjwatso1]

Aye, but I didn't think the southerners would understand!

 

[Gary Coyle]

Funny the shirts are sponsored by a local funeral directors

 

[Photodiva]

Aye, but I didn't think the southerners would understand!

Might be living 'dawn sowth' but I have roots in Phoenix Nights country!

 

[mercedes]

Bowton?

 

[smurfettes]

Only in Britain

 

[staffitaxi]

I'll have to show this to my Dad, suspect he will just say try doing it for 9-10 hours a day Mon-Fri in all weathers and see how quickly the novelty wears off.

I'm quite pleased he's not doing the coal anymore, he stopped about 10 years ago, its a very hard job.

Those sacks don't look as big as the ones he used to lug around either.

 

[CraigF]

They will do themselves an injury carrying coal like that. And by the looks of it you would be lucky if there was half a hundred weight in each of them.
Interesting set though.

 

[emyllis]

Coal Carrying, cheese rolling, only in the UK as you said smurfettes.