A unique and bizarre traditional pub sport involving whipping opponents with a beer-doused cloth is set to make its annual return to a Broads pub.
The dwile flonking event has been held in the vast garden at the Geldeston Locks Inn pub on the Norfolk-Suffolk border for a number of years.
The pub will host the Norfolk versus Suffolk 'flonk off' in Geldeston from midday on Sunday, September 10.
Yanny Mac has been hosting dwile flonking at the Locks Inn for 15 years now and is excited for the return of the competition.
Mr Mac said: "The lads have been training all summer for this Norfolk versus Suffolk clash.
"It’s very important to them."
The aim of the game is to flick a wet dishcloth (dwile) onto the bodies of the opposing team with a stick or pole (driveller), as they join hands and form a moving circle (girt).
Consecutive misses by the flonker (swadgers) are forfeited with downing a chamber pot (gazunder) full of ale-slops, or pouring it over one’s head.
Points are given out randomly. Turns are decided by the toss of a sugarbeet.
The competitors dress in ‘yokel-attire’ and will be trying to clinch the Colin Denny Lemon Sherbert Trophy.
Revivalists from the Clays & Clowes printing works were responsible for a dwile flonking renaissance in the 1960s, with Blyth Valley enthusiasts actually bidding for the sport to be included in the Mexico Olympics of 1968.
A veteran revivalist from the Waveney Valley association of the early 70s said: “It’s not like it was. Not now that the big money and TV are involved.
"In 1974 you could have a good flonk without the missus or the kids finding out.
"Now it’s all over the TikToks.”
Competitors are advised to turn up at 12pm. For more information search for traditional Dwile Flonking at harvest time on Facebook.
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