The World Custard Pie Championships, a unique and entertaining event, took place in Maidstone, Kent, to raise funds for Coxheath Village Hall. The competition, which has been held annually since 1967, attracted 30 teams, each consisting of four participants, who faced off against each other in a bid to be crowned the champions.
According to compere Geoff Cooke, the contest, comprising a semi-final and a final, becomes increasingly serious as it progresses. 'In the early rounds, it's just a laugh. And then as it progresses, it becomes more and more serious,' Cooke explained. 'It's about accuracy, there are points given for amusing and original pie throwing.'
The teams, who faced off in a pie-throwing contest, were required to throw the custard pies with their left hand. The winning team, The Old School Ravers, was awarded a trophy for their efforts. Cooke revealed that the custard pie recipe used in the competition is a 'closely guarded secret', with a scout group 'trained in mixing' to ensure the perfect consistency.
'The right consistency is so we get the right velocity,' Cooke added. 'You get a much better spread with our recipe, much more impressive.' The event has attracted teams from around the world, including Japan, Finland, and France, in previous years.