14 votes

Silly sports

Posted by Alanh02
Tags: ask.survey, theocho, offbeat

This is probably bad form but here goes.

I have just posted about the Man vs Horse race that happens in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales on an annual basis and it got me to thinking, is it a UK idiosyncrasy to have silly sports or is it World wide?

Apart from Cheese rolling at Cooper's Hill (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdKRx30s6sk) and Shin Kicking (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rajJJaiEdPE) what other silly sports are there?

9 comments

  1. chosenamewhendrunk
    Link
    Australia has a few, The Henley-On-Todd Regatta is a boat race in a river with no water Beer-can regattas on the other hand are run on water however the craft has to be constructed from beer cans....

    Australia has a few,
    The Henley-On-Todd Regatta is a boat race in a river with no water

    Beer-can regattas on the other hand are run on water however the craft has to be constructed from beer cans.

    The dunny derby

    The tuna toss

    4 votes
  2. disk
    Link
    One more from the UK: Atherstone ball game Worldwide: Red Bull soapbox race Brazil (some of these are not local to where I lived): Pau de sebo Where you're supposed to climb a log covered in oil...

    One more from the UK:
    Atherstone ball game

    Worldwide:
    Red Bull soapbox race

    Brazil (some of these are not local to where I lived):
    Pau de sebo
    Where you're supposed to climb a log covered in oil
    Wheelbarrow racing
    One person goes in the wheelbarrow, and another one pushes it towards the finish line, switching places along the way
    Footvolley
    A mix of volleyball and football, where you cannot use your hands, normally played on sandy beaches. It is quite hard to pick up, but definitely worth a watch

    3 votes
  3. cmccabe
    Link
    The Barkley Marathon: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkley_Marathons Maybe silly, maybe absurd, or maybe even preposterous. Runners World said:

    The Barkley Marathon:
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkley_Marathons

    Maybe silly, maybe absurd, or maybe even preposterous. Runners World said:

    The Barkley Marathons is one the hardest races in the ultrarunning world. Created by founder Gary “Lazarus Lake” Cantrell, the race provides one of the most grueling ultramarathons ever created.

    3 votes
  4. [2]
    Shmiggles
    Link
    World Pea Shooting Championships World Pea Throwing Championship Spaniel Racing Dwyle Flonking Worm charming Wife-carrying Husband Calling Bog snorkelling Gurning The Mongol Rally Microsoft Excel...
    2 votes
    1. disk
      Link Parent
      The IOCCC is always a riot. My favourite entry to date has to be the IOCCC flight simulator, which is an airplane-shaped, 2kb long flight simulator. Despite being so simple, it is surprisingly fun...

      The IOCCC is always a riot. My favourite entry to date has to be the IOCCC flight simulator, which is an airplane-shaped, 2kb long flight simulator. Despite being so simple, it is surprisingly fun and supports custom scenery!

  5. mycketforvirrad
    Link
    Stone-skimming: 'How I became one of the best in the world' BBC News – Tyler Edwards – 11th June 2023

    Stone-skimming: 'How I became one of the best in the world'

    From skimming pebbles on tiny lakes to becoming a world champion. Yes, you read correctly... there is a world championship for stone-skimming.

    Many of us will remember trying beat our siblings with the perfect stone to skip across the water during trips to the beach or park.

    But for Christina Bowen Bravery, that fun as a youngster on the lakes in Llangorse, Powys and in Plymouth, Devon soon became more than just a small, competitive family game.

    The 43-year-old travels the country on the lookout for the perfect stone and now her beady eyes, determination and skill have made her the best woman in the world at not one, not two, but three championships across the UK.

    BBC News – Tyler Edwards – 11th June 2023

    1 vote
  6. [2]
    arctanh
    Link
    Perhaps not a serious sport, but I always love watching the Roofball World Championships! The energy these guys put into their videos is hilarious to me.

    Perhaps not a serious sport, but I always love watching the Roofball World Championships! The energy these guys put into their videos is hilarious to me.

    1 vote
    1. Circa285
      Link Parent
      Oh my goodness. I cannot believe they went to so much trouble to have announcers and film what's essentially a game that just these people play but they couldn't be bothered to move the car out of...

      Oh my goodness. I cannot believe they went to so much trouble to have announcers and film what's essentially a game that just these people play but they couldn't be bothered to move the car out of the driveway.

      1 vote
  7. Stranger
    Link
    I don't know if it's "silly" per se, but beer pong and cornhole both have championship leagues that I've seen playing on sports channels. The games themselves aren't outlandish, but it's funny to...

    I don't know if it's "silly" per se, but beer pong
    and cornhole both have championship leagues that I've seen playing on sports channels. The games themselves aren't outlandish, but it's funny to me that college party games get that serious.