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Quiz about Quirky and Eccentric British Pastimes
Quiz about Quirky and Eccentric British Pastimes

Quirky and Eccentric British Pastimes Quiz


This quiz was inspired by a love of the curious, not to say eccentric, but very competitive, things the British do and have done for centuries.

A multiple-choice quiz by bracklaman. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
bracklaman
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
263,431
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
3107
Awards
Top 10% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 94 (7/10), Guest 78 (8/10), Guest 92 (9/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Some way to the north from my home in coastal South Wales there is an annual event which involves completing two lengths of a trench (sixty yards long and six foot deep) cut in a peat bog and filled with near-freezing stinking water.
Competitors must wear snorkels and masks but a wet suit is optional.
What is this event called?
Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. For this competition the action takes place annually in Dorset. Apparently the basis of the competition is for participants to very carefully eat a specific weed of a challenging size. One of the outcomes is that the tongue of the contestant turns black. So what is this competition called? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. In my youth and early manhood I played rugby and occupied a position in the front row of the scrum so I was not unused to having my shins 'accidentally' kicked. But I was surprised to discover that 'shin-kicking' was apparently an 'Olympick sport'. At least in this little town it is even today.
Which Cotswold town claims to hold the oldest continuous 'Olympick Games' in the world?
Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. The Crab Fair is held each year in Cumbria in the Lake District of the UK. It features a pastime which could be described as competitive face-pulling. What is it traditionally called? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. As a student in the 1960s I took part in this activity and so was very pleased to find out it was still going strong in a village in Lincolnshire.
Teams of two are required and a knowledge of the aerodynamic form would be a useful attribute but useless if you can't safely (and gently) catch a thrown object.
What activity is being described?
Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. This has been a traditional village and pub game for some time. Allegedly an early exponent of this tricky game had sufficient skill and power to be able to shatter a glass drinking tankard with one flick of his 'tolley'.
So do you know what game I'm describing?
Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. In my formative school years we used to have 'seasons' for school playground activities like marbles. One other pastime was an autumnal game which persuaded many of us to come forward to battle for the honour of being the 'conqueror'. We only had three strikes, if we lasted that long. What game or activity am I describing?

Answer: (One Word but plural, Caesar did this to Gaul - what a cheek.)
Question 8 of 10
8. This competition is open to both genders which is unusual in British traditional pastimes. It is held annually and requires a deadeye aim and a great deal of puff. It is often won by someone who has regularly eaten all of their green vegetables! Which sporting pastime is being described? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. This most traditional of Somerset sports requires the participant to stand in a pitching basket and, holding his/her object by its tops, hurl it as close as possible to a target. What is this called? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Apparently, each year, many dozens of competitors turn up to attempt to break the record for this 'activity' which was set on the same ground way back in 1980. They are only allowed to use only a garden fork (with tines) and whatever musical instruments they think might help. What magical event is being described? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Some way to the north from my home in coastal South Wales there is an annual event which involves completing two lengths of a trench (sixty yards long and six foot deep) cut in a peat bog and filled with near-freezing stinking water. Competitors must wear snorkels and masks but a wet suit is optional. What is this event called?

Answer: World Bog Snorkelling Championship

This event is one of three annual events organised each year by the landlord of a nearby pub. The other two involve a cross country race (over the peat bog of course) but with a horse and rider pitted against the human runners and a race involving mountain bikes.
2. For this competition the action takes place annually in Dorset. Apparently the basis of the competition is for participants to very carefully eat a specific weed of a challenging size. One of the outcomes is that the tongue of the contestant turns black. So what is this competition called?

Answer: World Stinging Nettle Eating Challenge

The event takes place annually in a pub in Marshwood, Dorset. Apparently, the origins of the competition date from a disagreement between local farmers as to who had the longest nettles on their farms.
I have never tasted raw nettles and I hope never so to do. However, my father used to make nettle wine which was potent and full of natural iron. It tasted much as you would expect. In other words ghastly!
3. In my youth and early manhood I played rugby and occupied a position in the front row of the scrum so I was not unused to having my shins 'accidentally' kicked. But I was surprised to discover that 'shin-kicking' was apparently an 'Olympick sport'. At least in this little town it is even today. Which Cotswold town claims to hold the oldest continuous 'Olympick Games' in the world?

Answer: Chipping Campden

My wife and I visited the event a few years ago at the delightful Chipping Campden near Broadway in the picturesque and historic Cotswolds. Despite sampling the strong local ale I was not persuaded to join in.
The rules involve two players with straw down their trousers who try to topple their opponent by kicking his legs.
4. The Crab Fair is held each year in Cumbria in the Lake District of the UK. It features a pastime which could be described as competitive face-pulling. What is it traditionally called?

Answer: Gurning

Egremont holds the Crab Fair each year. Among its many other attractions is Cumbrian Wrestling which has a very distinctive style.
Gurning was thought to have been handed down by the Vikings when they were marauding in this part of the British Isles.
5. As a student in the 1960s I took part in this activity and so was very pleased to find out it was still going strong in a village in Lincolnshire. Teams of two are required and a knowledge of the aerodynamic form would be a useful attribute but useless if you can't safely (and gently) catch a thrown object. What activity is being described?

Answer: World Egg-Throwing Championship

Swaton village in Lincolnshire hosts and annual egg throwing (and catching) competition. Nowadays preoccupation with safety means that competitors must wear protective capes and goggles.
To prevent cheating only official free-range eggs may be used, of a specified shell thickness and proven rawness
It is great fun if you don't get too eggcited!
6. This has been a traditional village and pub game for some time. Allegedly an early exponent of this tricky game had sufficient skill and power to be able to shatter a glass drinking tankard with one flick of his 'tolley'. So do you know what game I'm describing?

Answer: Marbles

The World marbles championships have been held since at least the 1920's in the village of Tinsley Green in Sussex.
The "tolley" is a player's shooting marble.
The event is usually held each year on Good Friday.
7. In my formative school years we used to have 'seasons' for school playground activities like marbles. One other pastime was an autumnal game which persuaded many of us to come forward to battle for the honour of being the 'conqueror'. We only had three strikes, if we lasted that long. What game or activity am I describing?

Answer: Conkers

Conkers has now reached international status and the World Conker championships drew competitors last year from as far afield as India and Benin.
The Conker championships are held on the village green in Ashton, Northamptonshire.
There are now strict inspections to ensure only "Competition-standard" conkers and laces are supplied to ensure no sharp practice.
8. This competition is open to both genders which is unusual in British traditional pastimes. It is held annually and requires a deadeye aim and a great deal of puff. It is often won by someone who has regularly eaten all of their green vegetables! Which sporting pastime is being described?

Answer: Peashooting World Championships

In the Peashooting World Championship both sexes compete together. The current world champion is a female. The Championship takes place in the village of Witcham, near Cambridge, on July each year.
9. This most traditional of Somerset sports requires the participant to stand in a pitching basket and, holding his/her object by its tops, hurl it as close as possible to a target. What is this called?

Answer: Mangold Hurling

There is a 'Mangold Hurling Association' which exists to promote awareness of this traditional Somerset sport. The winner is the one who hurls his mangold close as possible to a target mangold known as 'the Norman'.
Oh, in case you don't know what a 'mangold' is I can enlighten you by quoting from the website of the association mentioned above:
"The mangold-wurzel (or mangel-wurzel) is a member of the family Chenopodiaceae, genus Beta (beets). The beets include the sugar beet (Beta vulgaris altissima), beetroot (Beta vulgaris craca), and Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris flavascens). The mangold-wurzel (Beta vulgaris vulgaris) is a subspecies of the common beet (Beta vulgaris), as are chard (or leaf beet or spinach beet) (Beta vulgaris cicla), and sea beet (Beta vulgaris maritima).
For those with limited space, it is possible to cultivate the mangold-wurzel in a pot. It must however be removed from the pot before hurling.
This is really important. "
10. Apparently, each year, many dozens of competitors turn up to attempt to break the record for this 'activity' which was set on the same ground way back in 1980. They are only allowed to use only a garden fork (with tines) and whatever musical instruments they think might help. What magical event is being described?

Answer: World Worm-Charming championships

If we can believe it the legend says that in 1980 a farmer's son from Willaston near Nantwich, Cheshire, charmed more than 500 worms from the ground in half an hour.
Source: Author bracklaman

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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