Welly wanging heads to LIWF

Wirra Wirra wines is bringing the unusual British sport of welly wanging to next week’s London International Wine Fair (LIWF).

The McLaren Vale producer said: “Back home in McLaren Vale, Wirra Wirra is famous for slinging watermelons from a huge medieval trebuchet when the mood takes them. With the British reputation for being a tad more restrained, we are expressing ourselves Brit-style, and embracing the traditional sport of welly wanging.”

The wanging will take place from 11am to 2.30pm on Tuesday, 21 May at Victoria Square, which is outside the western entrance of the ExCel.

There are a surprising number of rules behind the sport of welly wanging, which originated in the village of Upperthong in West Yorkshire.

Competitors can use either a standing start or a run-up, although the maximum is 42 paces.

For anyone who is thinking of heading along to wang a welly at LIWF, there are four main techniques “for ensuring good welly propulsion”. These are one handed, two handed, the backward throw and between the legs, which is the commonly applied technique for smaller competitors and beginners.

The winner of the Wirra Wirra welly wanging competition will receive a mixed case of Wirra Wirra wines and a donation of £250 to the charity of their choice and two runners-up will get a case of wine each.