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The LOLympics
The Olympics spirit extends far beyond the Games themselves. We salute the LOLympians, who compete in games off the beaten track (and field).
Faster - Higher - Stronger. The Olympic motto can be applied as much to competitive pea pushing as to breaking the four-minute mile. The competitions featured here might sometimes lack the gravitas of those that win the five rings seal of approval, but don't forget that the tug of war was contested at the Summer Olympiad from 1900 to 1920, while rope climbing made it to 1924. With BMX recently getting official recognition and golf making a comeback, there's hope for all you bun-eaters, cheese-rollers and haggis-hurlers yet.
The Flaming Tar Barrels of Ottery St MaryThe Flaming Tar Barrels of Ottery St Mary
Current affairs 1978 2 minsSilent Location: Ottery St Mary
Unique tradition of Ottery St Maryβs flaming tar barrels rolls on
Haggis HurlingHaggis Hurling
News 1980 6 mins Location: Belfast
Meet the president leading the haggis hurling revival and learn how delivering lunch became a sport for kilted gentlemen.
Pipe Smoking ContestPipe Smoking Contest
News 1963 3 minsSilent Location: Rathfriland
A piano player, a magician or sandwiches, which would motivate you to smoke the longest?
Stuntwoman Human CannonballStuntwoman Human Cannonball
News 1975 3 mins Location: Knebworth Ho
Human Cannonball Mary Connors has the guts and determination of any Olympian, proving she really is a she performing at Knebworth House, 1975.
Cheese RollingCheese Rolling
News 1960 1 minsSilent Location: Cooper's Hill
Injuries abound as the annual cheese rolling at Cooper's Hill near Brockworth claims its usual victims.
Tug of WarTug of War
News 1975 5 mins Location: Leicester
Their training regime includes lifting a lump of concrete into a tree - meet the Leicester tug-of-war team preparing to take on the world.
Wirksworth Uphill Beer Barrel RaceWirksworth Uphill Beer Barrel Race
News 1976 6 mins Location: Wirksworth
At their secret Peak District training camp outside Wirksworth a group of elite athletes prepare for an extreme sporting challenge.
Wellington Go Kart RaceWellington Go Kart Race
News 1965 1 minsSilent Location: Wellington
Karts start hearts and minds racing in semi legal street race
Field PushballField Pushball
Sport 1968 1 minsSilent Location: Torquay
Pushballers grapple with oversized ball
Pub GamesPub Games
Current affairs 1970 1 minsSilent Location: Plymouth
Beer and Bangers are almost a recipe for disaster in this English Pub
Waterski Championships and Other SportsWaterski Championships and Other Sports
Amateur film 1968 9 minsSilent
Exotic sporting events from water-skiing to wheel barrow racing are just two of the highlights of this amateur newsreel film.
Jubilee - Sack Race, Building BonfireJubilee - Sack Race, Building Bonfire
Home movie 1935 2 minsSilent Location: Tredegar
Making merry to celebrate the monarchy: King George Vβs silver jubilee in 1935 is the occasion of community festivities in Tredegar/area.
Myers Annual SportsMyers Annual Sports
News 1963 1 minsSilent Location: Langley Green
Tug-of-war and pushball - two of the classic sports on offer at this typical Oldbury works sports day.
CACS plays gamesCACS plays games
Home movie 1948 5 minsSilent
Forget Sir W Raleigh laying down his cloak for the Queen. Here, Cardiff Amateur Cine Society members lay down their newspapers for the ladies!
Bun Eating ContestBun Eating Contest
News 1963 1 minsSilent Location: Rathfriland
Can you spot the cheat in this greedy contest?
Oldbury County High School Athletic Sports June 1938Oldbury County High School Athletic Sports June 1938
Home movie 1938 6 minsSilent Location: Oldbury
Remembered by many but loved by few - that highlight of the school calendar - the sports day.
International Four Town CompetitionInternational Four Town Competition
News 1967 1 minsSilent Location: Stroud
Stand well clear for this one - it's competitive brick and rolling pin throwing as the Strouds of the English speaking world come together.
Sports and Parks in BarnetSports and Parks in Barnet
Home movie 1984 9 minsSilent Location: Barnet
A journey through the greenest parts of Barnet features sporting scenes of a Sunday league football and bowls matches.
Heinze Wolff and the 57 TricyclesHeinze Wolff and the 57 Tricycles
Documentary 1986 25 mins Location: Milton Keynes
An archetypal eccentric professor is a fitting presenter for an equally eccentric and ingenious bunch of human powered mobile contraptions.
Sports TimeSports Time
Amateur film 1971 17 mins Location: Wakefield
From the rich manβs sport of power boats, to the poor manβs scrambling, and in between the mad lot playing football driving around in Cortinas.
ConkersConkers
News 1981 2 mins Location: Ashton
Ever wondered where the conker capital of the world is? Thought not. Oh! Okay, if you insist: it's Aston in Northamptonshire.
Pram-olympicsPram-olympics
Amateur film 1976 4 minsSilent
From the decade that style forgot - it's the 1976 Portsmouth and Southsea Pram-Olympics!
Plymouth's Pram Derby 1923Plymouth's Pram Derby 1923
Non-Fiction 1923 3 minsSilent Location: Plymouth
Get that Kruschen Feeling! Pram race to fundraise for the Palace Theatre
Champion Onion PeelerChampion Onion Peeler
News 1980 2 mins Location: Wolverley
Wolverley in Worcestershire boasts an unusual British champion with a record that would bring tears to your eyes.
Clive Hall, Llandaf - Sports' DayClive Hall, Llandaf - Sports' Day
Home movie 1947 4 minsSilent Location: Llandaff
Races of all sorts have been arranged for the children at Roald Dahlβs old school in Cardiff β and parents get a chance to race too!
Pea Pushing ContestPea Pushing Contest
News 1969 0 minsSilent Location: Belfast
Who will be the first to roll across the finish line?
Rat RacingRat Racing
News 1969 15 mins Location: Crumlin
Are champions made with a diet of cereal and Guinness? See the world recording breaking rat in his prime before he gets eaten by his ownerβs cat.
Sports Day Races on Plymouth HoeSports Day Races on Plymouth Hoe
News 1961 1 minsSilent Location: Plymouth
Sports Day on Plymouth Hoe as children and parents find their feet
Pushball Bouts and Boy Scout Camp in BreconPushball Bouts and Boy Scout Camp in Brecon
Non-Fiction 1925 2 minsSilent Location: Brecon/Aberhonddu
The Pushball β an enormous sphere filled with hot air and advertising the βDaily Mailβ - comes to Brecon annually, as part of the carnival.
Sport, on two wheelsSport, on two wheels
Amateur film 1950 7 minsSilent
Motorcyclists being asked to walk the plank and dismount for βspud and water'? What's going on?
Itβs a Knockout at Halkyn Cricket ClubItβs a Knockout at Halkyn Cricket Club
Home movie 1977 15 minsSilent Location: Halkyn/Helygain
In the Queenβs silver jubilee year, Halkyn provides an Itβs a Knockout to remember despite the not so clement weather.
Fun at Halkyn Cricket ClubFun at Halkyn Cricket Club
Home movie 1975 15 minsSilent Location: Halkyn/Helygain
Halkyn Cricket Club opens its beautiful ground to fun and frolics on the sunny August bank holiday in 1975 and the drought-stricken one in 1976.
Michelle's Sports DayMichelle's Sports Day
Amateur film 1970 5 minsSilent Location: Bexley
Danson Park, Welling, is the setting for a quintessential sports day featuring egg and spoon, sack and parents race.
Motor Racing Crystal PalaceMotor Racing Crystal Palace
Amateur film 1969 3 minsSilent Location: Crystal Palace
Formula 3 and sports cars are unleashed on Crystal Palace Park's once thriving race circuit.
School Sports DaySchool Sports Day
Home movie 1973 3 minsSilent Location: Enfield
Colourful and lively home movie record of garden activities and school sports day in Enfield Town Park.
Peterston-Super-Ely July 26thPeterston-Super-Ely July 26th
Amateur film 1946 17 minsSilent Location: Whitchurch
August shows in south Wales (Peterston-super-Ely, Pontypridd, Rumney, Aberdare and Whitchurch): horses, drays and the hammer and sickle.