ARBROATH’S Tartan Week celebrations extend into tomorrow when another national icon will feature prominently at the town’s Inchcape Park.

Tartan clad contestants will be aiming to give Arbroath another entry in The Guinness Book Of Records with their UFOs (upward flying oatmeal) at a special haggis hurling competition.

Haggis hurling is claimed to be a traditional Scottish sport. It is said that the haggis would be prepared for lunch for the man of the family, who was out working the croft, by his wife.

Scotland is known as a land of rivers and bogs, so walking from the crofthouse to the place of work could often entail a long way round to cross a river or low lying ground.

In these cases the wife would throw the cooked haggis to the husband, who would catch it using the front apron of his kilt.

According to The Guinness Book Of Records, the world record for haggis hurling is held by Alan Pettigrew of Saltcoats. He threw a 1lb 8oz haggis 180 feet 10 inches on the island of Inchmurrin on Loch Lomond in August 1984.

The organiser of tomorrow’s event, Lee Haxton, has extended an invitation to Mr Pettigrew, wherever he may be, to come and take part in the fun and defend his long-standing record.

“The fact that his record has stood for 20 years says an awful lot, but we will have some strapping lads down here from the local rugby and cricket clubs who will be doing their best to beat it,” said Lee.

Other attractions planned for the day, which starts at noon, are a beat-the-goalie competition and a bouncy castle.