New record declared for Dorset Knob throwing event

11 August 2025

News image — Contestants (pictured in 2024) must throw Dorset Knobs underarm

BBC People lining up side by side throwing Dorset Knobs in a field, watched by spectators — Contestants (pictured in 2024) must throw Dorset Knobs underarm

A new record has been set at the annual Dorset Knob Throwing Contest.

The quirky event where competitors hurl the crispy, bread roll-shaped biscuits was held at Cattistock Countryside Show on Sunday.

Contestants are allowed to launch three biscuits, thrown underarm, with the furthest measured by an umpire.

Rob Dansey set the new record, throwing a distance of 32.05m (105ft 2in), narrowly beating the record of 31.9m (104ft 8in).

Two large cardboard boxes of Dorset knobs - small hard bread biscuits that resemble bread rolls — Dorset Knobs have been thrown competitively for more than two decades

Mr Dansey took the record from James Vincent-Smith who won the competition in 2019.

The under-12s' record was also broken by Munjo, who threw 24.6m (81ft).

The ladies' category was won by Helen Pidduck, who threw 21m (69ft), although it was not a record for the category.

The contest started in a pub garden in the early 2000s.

After becoming too big, it relocated to Cattistock's village play area. It then expanded further to a football pitch, before becoming The Dorset Knob Throwing and Frome Valley Food Festival for several years.

It was also held at Kingston Maurward College but had been paused since the Covid pandemic until last year when it was incorporated into the annual Cattistock Countryside Show.

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