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Giant dead eel tossing contest canceled By KATIE FRETLAND, Associated Press Writer





For more than 30 years, crowds have flocked to the small English fishing village of Lyme Regis to watch an annual tradition — two teams of fishermen standing on wooden platforms as human bowling pins, hurling a dead giant eel at each other. But the ritual was abruptly abandoned after an animal rights activist threatened to draw negative publicity to the latest tournament, organizers said Saturday.

The practice, known as conger cuddling, is the annual highlight in the small coastal town about 155 miles southwest of London. The object of the game is to knock the opposing team off the platform by swinging a 25-pound eel at them.

Crowds have flocked to Lyme Regis since 1974 to watch rival teams of nine men swing the giant conger eel — suspended in the harbor by a rope — and local residents said they are dismayed at the demise of their historic event.

Andrew Kaye, a resident and spokesman for the Lyme Regis lifeboat crews who raise money through the tournament, said an anonymous e-mailer had called the practice disrespectful to the dead eel.

The lone activist threatened to film the contest to attract adverse media attention, Kaye said.

"We decided that it really wasn't worth upsetting anybody by going ahead with using a dead conger," Kaye said. "But it's a dead conger, for Pete's sake. I shouldn't think the conger could care one way or another."

He said fishermen often accidentally catch the creatures in their nets, deep-freeze them and defrost them in preparation for the tournament.

Ron Bailey, a fishing boat skipper, said the tournament is meant as a wet, carnival-like event which usually raises about $5,600 for Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboat crews.

About 300 people attended an alternative event on Friday night. But the boat dock fender that participants used paled in comparison to being struck by a dead eel, Bailey said.





Copyright © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.



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"Disrespectful"??? Please tell me that I didn't really read the word "disrespectful" when talking about a dead eel. Please tell me that. When does the stupidity end?

Is this similar to the Parisian cover up?? We're going to be scared to breathe soon, in case it offends some limpwristed twat!! In Australia we are already scared to light a real fire in case our neighbours report us for pollution. And in summer if we dance under the sprinkler with our kids, we'll probably get fined by the water police. ARgghghgghhg.

Oh I do, Pinky. I meant 'we' as other people. Know wha' I mean!! :sneaky:

One of the beach towns near me has a Mullet toss every year. It is put on by one of the bars and you can't get parking for miles. The fish stink and the tossers are stinking drunk.

And a good time is had by all!