AN 11-YEAR-OLD boy from Evesham has been crowned the first-ever Pass the Pigs world champion after a tense and dramatic final in a town centre pub.
Finn Dickinson, won the moniker last Saturday (August 6) after fierce competition amongst 28 entrants at The Red Lion in Market Place.
The game involves contestants officially known as ‘piggers’ throwing two small pigs and scoring according to how they land, hoping to avoid the dreaded ‘Makin’ Bacon’ – a position which resets the player’s score to zero.
Finn Dickinson celebrates his victory with The Red Lion landlord, Tom Doggett. s
The piggers, including four dedicated fans of the game who travelled from Bristol just for the occasion, played two rounds for an aggregate score, followed by two semi finals and the grand final.
Finn beat Emily Brooks, at first a reluctant entrant representing Gloucestershire-based Uley Brewery, in a tense final in front of a raucous and unashamedly partisan crowd.
The brewery, which is celebrating their fortieth anniversary this year, helped run a beer festival at the pub, their six different ales clearly helping with the atmosphere.
Emily Brooks from Uley brewery won a sophisticated pig-based footwarmer. s
Landlord Tom Doggett, who adopted the title of ‘Grand Pigmeister’ for the day, was thrilled with the turnout.
“We’ve never done anything like this before, so didn’t really have any idea what to expect. The turnout was superb, and the atmosphere was electric.
“It’s definitely going to be an annual event, and partnering with Uley Brewery, whose beers all have a pig theme, was the icing on the cake.”
The wooden spoon went to local musician Pete Jones, who came last after scoring ‘nul points’ over three games in his second-round match.
Newly-crowned World Champion Finn said, “I couldn’t believe it when I won. My friends and family were all cheering me on and there was a huge cheer when I threw the winning pigs, and I love the trophy.”
The trophy was made by Worcester-based Chipmumf, who turn scrap wood and other items into unique gifts and medals.
Runner-up Emily, the brewery’s head of operations, was surprised by how seriously she ended up taking the tournament. “I’ve never played Pass the Pigs before, and I was expecting to have a few throws and not really care, but I ended up absolutely gripped.
“We’ve loved being involved in such a mad day, long may it continue.”
The Red Lion runs a games night on the third Wednesday every month, the next on September 17 from 7pm.
