After last year's Hat Throwing Triumph I am in advanced negotiations to bring the contest back to Ilkley for the morning of Yorkshire Day (1st Aug.).

I have some volunteers already but I need a few more. Please pm me if you'd be interested (there will be a reward in heaven, and may even be a pie shaped one on earth).

More importantly I need people with hats who want to take part. It will be ticketed entry, there will be certificates (possibly prizes if I can get sponsorship) and there may be a small charge to take part, or request for a contribution to cover costs, or for a worthy cause (depending on negotiations).

So if you want to help, or take part, please pm me asap.

If the link at top still does not work, or you want more on the background, see my site

As the supreme champion hat thrower (2009), I will certainly be there to defend my title. Was a bit miffed about the Gazette's coverage - only picture of the runner-up and miss-spelling my name (which has stuck with a number of acqaintances). I might sue.

Shameful treatment, although I am sure it nothing to do with the fact that both the runner up and the 007 Indoor Champion were both good looking women, and one of them was hold a small, cute dog.

btw: were you on Calendar, did you record it, and if you did, could one of your children put it on u-tube? I never saw either of their two features.

Good looking women and small dogs? Whoever will they allow on the moor next?

Yes, rushed to mother's to watch Calendar as she'd never have forgiven me if she hadn't seen it. Splendid clip - includes wife's attempt to destroy the TV camera with a flying hat! And yes, it is recorded, and yes, I will get a child to do the necessary. I'll let you know.

Not sure if this will work...

www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=18766...1&subj=778793109

Blimey. That looks like fun.

Disaster has struck. Having been informed of a pre-arranged family trip to in-laws on the east coast, and having now recovered from the ensuing domestic, I will regrettably be unable to defend the above mentioned title. Although I am sure the rules say somewhere that a reigning champion cannot be de-throned without actually being beaten in a throw-off. (well if they don't they should do). Will there be a further event as part of the festival fringe?

I hope this one works so well that I get enough people willing to help it become a regular crowning event. I am talking to St Gemma's Hospice shop about a link up and I have friends willing to help; but I have no official backing yet, I really need a few more people to help, and time flies (as do hats).

btw. This is not like British wrestling, where some fat bloke won a world title following a bout in the Baccup Boilermakers Club and the exchange of a brown paper bag full of ten bob notes; a title only surrendered on death (and sometimes not then if the cadaver could be propped up).

Is there any particular type of hat you prefer and is there a type you don't? Does colour matter as it's York Shire day?

Evening Star wrote:
...York Shire...

Sheesh!

A sheesh?

Is that some form of native York Shire head gear?

You now have more opportunity to practise with your sheesh, on account of the Hat Throwing being moved back to its traditional month of October.

Trying to deal with the councillor proved to be as easy as forking fog, so there is no official backing; and seeing that the summer festival is so poorly organised we have decided there is no sense in linking to it; so we will go back to using our own resources, and give ourselves time to do it properly.

At least that means the reigning supreme champion can defend his title.

Evening Star wrote:
A sheesh?

Is that some form of native York Shire head gear?

No, it's a type of kebab

Ah!

You mean it's a churrasquinho grego.

Wonderful!

Splendid news. This means that I will not be overly grumpy when waking up at the in-laws tomorrow. On the other hand, there is a good chance that I will, but not for reasons associated with the lack of participation in hat-throwing contests.