The Bretons are not lacking in imagination when it comes to sports. Several famous competitions in the region combine physical prowess, local products and a good dose of self-mockery.
Throwing artichokes in Henvic
The toss of artichokes is a team sport. On one side, the launcher. At 11 m from him, precisely, the receiver, equipped with a hood attached to his back. The goal ? Toss in as many artichokes as possible in the allotted time. The record to beat is 77 artichokes in one minute! This year, the competition organized on July 10, in Henvic (Finistère) by the Pays de Morlaix Poker Club association, will be held in the form of pools, then direct elimination matches which will crown the new world champions in the discipline.
Menhir throwing at Guerlesquin
Some throw the javelin, the weight or the hammer. In Guerlesquin (Finistère), we prefer the menhir throw. Namely to fly high, and especially far, the granite stones dear to Obélix. The irreducible competitors, after having been able to feast on grilled boar, try to win the gold menhir in the categories Idéfix (children), Falbala (ladies), Asterix (- 20 years old) and Obelix (+ 20 years old). A menhir which casually weighs 25 kg for adults. See you on August 4th!
The cardboard boat race in Douarnenez
There are dozens of regattas in Brittany. But the one that takes place every year, in June, in Douarnenez (Finistère), has very strict rules: boats can only be built out of cardboard ! For the rest, everything is authorized, from the most unusual to the craziest decoration. The winner is of course the first to cross the finish line, with all his passengers on board, but other prizes are awarded, such as the Titanic prize, rewarding the most beautiful shipwreck…
Shelling langoustines in Guilvinec
On May 28, Fanny Trividic retained the title she had put back into play. By shelling 100 crustaceans in 3 min 49 s, she remains the world champion in shelling langoustines! She thus flatly beat the president of the department, Maël de Calan, like Jean-Luc Tanneau, the mayor of Guilvinec (Finistère), commune where the Fête du pesked, which has hosted this amazing competition since 2014.
Onion braiding in Roscoff
Roscoff onions (Finistère) have a protected designation of origin (AOP). This variety is indeed distinguished by its taste qualities and its very long conservation, recognized since the 17th century. And traditionally, these onions are sold in bunches of about one kilo, braided manually. It is this know-how that highlights the Onion Festival, which will take place on August 20 and 21by organizing an onion weaving contest!
Other records and championships
11.04 m: this is the current world record for winkle spit. It was established by Alain Jourdren, in 2011, in Sibiril in Finistère. Because it is this town near Roscoff which regularly hosts this competition, of which there will however be no 2022 edition.
Read also: Sibiril. Periwinkle spitting, a world discipline
We can also mention another record: 12.20 m, in the category oyster basket toss ! In reality, these baskets are filled with sand and not shells: do not waste, explain the persons in charge of Festimate, in Saint-Armel in the Gulf of Morbihan. But don’t look, the festival will unfortunately not take place this year.
Another important championship sadly disappeared: the pig cry competition, in Milizac, in Finistère. In July, during Pork Saturday, the candidates followed one another on stage, to try the best possible imitation: piglet’s cry, pig’s growl, sow’s squeal, pig’s howl… Grouiiik!
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