ARBROATH’S BID to set a new world record for haggis hurling attracted scores of entrants to Inchcape Park on Saturday and, although no-one quite achieved the required distance, the event was voted a great success.

Winner on the day was Sam Asante who, as a serving NCO with RM Condor-based 45 Commando and recently having returned from operational duties in Afghanistan, perhaps had a slight edge over his rivals.

Sam, who visited the Tartan Day competition with his family and hurled the Scottish delicacy more than 37 metres, said, “It was great fun and, if it’s held again next year, I’ll be more than happy to come along and defend my new title.

“My five-year-old son Cameron had a go as well and, with a bit of coaching, maybe I’ll stand aside and let him do it next time.”

The event was organised by the Arbroath and Area Partnership whose chairman Alistair Gray said, “It was great fun and the superb weather meant we had a lot of people coming along to try their hand at the haggis hurling.

“This is the first time we have tried this as part of our Tartan Week activities and, judging by its popularity, it is definitely something we would want to be doing again.

“We are very grateful to McSweens for providing the haggis and look forward to working with them again next year when the event will, we hope, be even bigger and better.”

Partnership vice-chairman Pat Millar said, “It was a fun event and when people saw their best throws being beaten they were queueing up to try again.”

Results:

Senior—1 S. Asante,       37.6m; 2 D. Millard, 27.9m; 3 M. Seamer, 25.3m; 4 G. Law, 24.7m; 5 L. Haxton, 24.5m.

Junior—1 J. Wolf, 23.8m; 2 A. Wolf; 17.8m; 3 S. Campbell, 17.0m; 4 I. Henderson, 13.4m; 5 T. Ambler, 12.9m.