Wellie wanging, or wellie throwing, is a sport that originated in Britain in Upperthong, Holmfirth. Competitors are required to hurl a Wellington boot as far as possible within boundary lines, from a standing or running start. A variation requires participants to launch the wellie from the end of their foot as if they were kicking off a pair of shoes. The high level of competition has led to precise, highly-regulated rules for the sport.
The World Welly Wanging Championships are held each year in the town of Upperthong in Holmfirth. It is thought that welly wanging originated following an incident where a pint of Tetley’s Bitter was spilt into someones welly. Since that iconic moment the sport has never looked back.
Note that the word wellie is also often spelt as welly. Wellie wanging events today are often associated with fundraising events.
Many other countries have their own equivalent of wellie wanging. The town of Taihape in New Zealand, styles itself the gumboot-throwing capital of the country (or the gumboot-throwing capital of the world[1]), while an annual Boot-Throwing World Championship takes place in various European countries such as Germany, Finland and Poland.
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There are four main techniques for ensuring good welly propulsion:
One handed – This is a commonly used technique, where the competitor uses a single hand to propel his or her welly. This can be attempted either right or left-handed, but you cannot use both simultaneously on separate boots.
Double handed – This is often used where there is a particularly large welly, so that both hands can fit securely around the boot. Propulsion in this position usually involves a shot-put-style swing technique.
Between the legs – This is where the competitor throws the welly from between their legs, facing towards the target and bending the legs slightly to accommodate the swing. This is a commonly applied technique for smaller competitors and beginners.
Backward throw – This is when the competitor throws the welly over their head, whilst facing away from their target. Whilst this enables a large back swing, it also means that the target is out of sight for the duration of the throw. The competitor must also be wary of having the boot land on their head when throwing in this position.