The poor man’s turnip took centre-stage when the traditional sport of mangold hurling received its annual airing in Sherston on Sunday.

Scores of people took part in the rural contest that has been lauded as “possibly the greatest vegetable throwing event ever.”

Skill, strength and cunning are prerequisites for any competitor dreaming of success, according to the Ancient Order of Sherston Mangold Hurlers.

“It’s all very tongue in the cheek, and really good fun,” said Martin Rea, spokesman for the village Mangold Hurl.

Popular with farmworkers during the 19th century – especially after a few scrumpies – the propelling of the large and these days rarely grown veg slowly died out over the decades.

But a stroke of inspiration saw the sport reintroduced by the traditionally minded folk of Sherston eight years ago, and it has now become a popular fixture for the first Sunday in every October.

Players take it in turns to hurl a mangold – or a mangelwurzel to give it its full name – at a “norman,” which is another mangold that is used as a target.

The winner is the one who gets his or her mangold closest to the norman. The game is quite similar to bowls, only with mangolds.

Two years ago the unthinkable happened; the event was cancelled because the organisers couldn’t round up enough mangolds.

However, they vowed ‘never again’ and a determined mangold hunt now ensues during the weeks leading up to the Sherston Mangold Hurl.

“They are not easy to get hold of these days,” said Mr Rae.

“They are quite an old fashioned vegetable. It takes a lot of trawling around to get them. We have to hunt about a bit.

“They’re a poor man’s turnip, really. They are enormous and can taste woody. You’d have to be desperate to eat one.”

Luckily some farmers still grow the root vegetable, which resemble beetroot, as cow fodder. They certainly make great hurling fodder.

On Sunday ten teams took part in the keenly contested event while 20 people battled for supremacy in the singles event.

The team winners were 'Not Great Expectations' who just managed to nudge in front of the 'Hurley Burleys' in second place.

Nick Blows won the singles event while Team Tetbury triumphed in the children’s event with The Page Boys finishing runners-up.