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Competitors in the Scottish Coal Carrying Championships through the streets of Kelty in Fife (Jane BarlowPA)
PA Wire
Scotland’s coal carrying championship has been held after a five-year hiatus, with former prime minister Gordon Brown on hand to present the prizes.
Men women and children competed in a series of races to carry coal sacks for a kilometre through the Fife village of Kelty.
Founded in 1995 by organiser Michael Boyle to honour Kelty’s coal-mining heritage, the annual event has attracted thousands of spectators.
However, a lack of sponsorship in past years and then the coronavirus pandemic meant this is the first championship to be held since 2016.
The races began at the RBS building on the main street, with men carrying 50kg bags of coal, women 25kg bags and children 15kg bags to the finish line at Kelty primary school.
Prizes were awarded by Mr Brown, the former Fife MP, and a director of this year’s sponsor National Pride UK, who have recently bought the former St Ninians and Loch Fitty coal mine with the intention of building a leisure and wellness park on the site.
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