Sussex Christmas Tree Fling returns to Catsfield

If your idea of getting into the festive spirit involves hurling a six-foot Norway spruce as far as you possibly can, there's a spot on the calendar for you. The sixth annual Sussex Christmas Tree Flinging Championships are back, and this year they land at Catsfield Christmas Tree Farm, near Battle, on Saturday 7 November. It's the sort of event that sounds like a joke until you see the prizes attached, and it's become a genuine fixture of the local Christmas build-up.

For the adults, the stakes are surprisingly real. The men's and women's champions each walk away with £150 and a wooden trophy sponsored by the Battle accountancy firm Holland Harper. The children get their own moment in the spotlight too, competing in two mixed categories — under-10s and under-16s — with farm shop vouchers and trophies also sponsored by Holland Harper. If you want to throw, you'll need to register through Eventbrite and check in on arrival; children and spectators don't need to register at all, so it's easy to turn up and watch.

It's worth knowing what you're up against. Last year's women's champion, Louise Thompson, threw 5.65 metres, while the men's winner, James Gardiner, pushed it to 9.1 metres. Organisers are quietly hoping 2024 women's champion Becky Palmer, of St Leonard's, returns to try and beat her 6.91-metre throw, which was thought to be a world record for women. Whether you're chasing a record or just a laugh, the day is built around the spectacle as much as the distance.

The schedule is tightly packed, so it's worth planning your arrival. Check-in opens at 12.30pm, with contestants asked to gather at 1.15pm. The children throw first from 1.30pm, the women follow at 2pm, and the men take their turn at around 2.30pm, with the prize presentations planned for 3pm. A couple of practical tips before you commit: wear sturdy footwear and bring gloves, because those spiky trees aren't kind to bare hands, and parking is limited, so car sharing or getting dropped off is the sensible move.

There's plenty to do around the competition, too. The Christmas Edit opens at 12.30pm and runs until the contest finishes, with decorations, lights and potted Christmas trees on sale, while the Waffle Wagon keeps everyone fed and warm with waffles and hot drinks. The farm itself is no amateur outfit; it enters the annual British Christmas Tree Growers Association competition, and its Norway Spruce was chosen to represent the farm at the event in Barcombe, near Lewes, back in October. The overall champion of that competition gets to provide the tree displayed outside the Prime Minister's residence, and the farm is hoping to build on last year's Celebrity Choice Wreath Award.

Farm owner Clive Collins sums it up simply: 'The countdown is on, so now is the time to start practising your throwing technique and get your name down. Whether you're a returning competitor hoping to beat your best or a first-timer who fancies a go, we'd love to see you at Catsfield. The tree fling has become a much-loved part of our Christmas build-up. People take the competition seriously, but there's also plenty of laughter and encouragement from the crowd. Register now, bring your supporters and see how far you can fling!'