The world came to Abingdon today to throw buns in the first ever World Bun Throwing Championship. Richard Gottfried, who has been to every bun throwing since 1980, and who writes the World of Bun Throwing Blog, was there having a go.
A long queue of people formed waiting to throw buns.
Olympics and Jubilee, a pair of West Highland Terriers, came to to watch. Collectively they are known as Jubilolympia.
Everybody could have a go. There were competitions for all different ages and genders of people.
The event was the idea of Mike Badcock, Mayor of Abingdon. Bill Reynolds, the Radio Oxford reporter, was there to do a running commentary.
There were some very good throwers. 50 meters was often beaten.
The World record – for both genders – was probably broken on several occasions – unofficially. I think we need some stricter rules next year to get that into the Guiness Book of Records. Less compressing buns into rock buns.
The longest throw in the younger age groups was I think 52 meter 60. It was not this young lad.
The longest throw in the adults section was 57 meters 80 cm. I think this is the winning thrower.
Awesome bun throwing! Could only happen in Abingdon.
I can’t quite believe that such an ancient and uniquely Abingdon-on-Thames-English activity as bun-throwing (or tossing) should-would-could be measured in that peculiarly continental and Frankish metric system!!!
What, pray tell, is wrong with good olde yards, inches, feet, rods, chains, & possibly even furlongs or fathoms??? Please avoid this problem next year.
BTW, can someone please give me a non-metric recipe for the proper bun-tossing buns?? Sorry to say, my wife Kate and I will almost certainly not be able to be in Abingdon-on-Thames for the tossing to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee. We will try to organize our own celebratory tossing in our neighborhood, but I INSIST we must have authentic buns to toss!!.
Warmest regards,
Carl Fritz
Carl – I hope someone will send you the recipe and look forward to seeing pictures of your ceremnony. However I must protest at your use of the term “bun-tossing”: as an avid fan of our traditions, surely you know that in Merrie Abingdon-on-Thames we THROW our buns. We toss pancakes and in Scotland they toss the caber, but buns are thrown!
By the way, I see from the Town Council website that on 5 June we will have “Live television coverage of the Service of Thanksgiving from St Paul’s Cathedral, Abbey Grounds”.
Haven’t seen any sign of building work yet……
Maybe we could suggest the rebuilding of the abbey as a project for the green gym?
What a brilliant event and it was nice to have a day out in Abingdon again.
Great to meet Alastair and Harry too.
Looking forward to being a Bun Catcher at the Diamond Jubilee Bun Throwing in June.
That’s a great action photo you’ve captured of me too 😉
I stand corrected, Hester! THROW it is ! My apologies to any and all who might have been offended by my mistaken use of the verb “toss”. Kate and I have been lucky enough to take part in several bun-throwings, and we both enjoyed the event immensly. To my untrained ear, “toss” sounded more in tune with the happy mood that was so evident on those days in the Market Square.
Please don’t expect too much of my hope to hold a bun-throw over here. You folks have had so much more experience at this—— It’s probably presumptious of me to even consider such a thing. Do you suppose that the AoT Town Council would give their approval if I asked ?
Regards,
Carl Fritz
good to meet you Richard at long last. And Carl, I will write a formal question to the town council requesting that you tA
Good to meet you Richard. See you in June.
Carl, just email the town council with your request. It is now a World Sport. I cannot see how they can say no.
Backstreeter,
I’ll get to work on a request letter to the AoT Toown Council tomorrow. Any tips as to wording or protocol will be most welcome.
No recepe for the official bus as yet,, but I am still hopeful that some kind soul will help me in this. My email address is carlmgtc@hotmail.com
Thanks,
Carl Fritz
“Any tips as to wording or protocol will be most welcome.” …
Just avoid calling them “tossers” – after all, they are World leaders in bun projection activities.
Who knows what will develop for AoT. Have you seen how pumpkin chuckin’ has gone as a Global Media event ? Who will be first to get a bun across the Thames?
[Google it]
Now there’s an idea – Bun Throwing across the River!!!
As a food/veg aside and related to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee I noticed online that people in Boston, Lincs are running a World Cabbage Bowling Championships on the June bank holiday!
I can’t believe this was eight years ago yesterday!