The Blakeney Greasy Pole 2025

Part of the Blakeney Sailing Regatta which runs over the whole weekend, the greasy pole dates back well over a hundred years to 1873 when the prize for winning was a hog.

Blakeney’s annual greasy pole challenge returns on the 30th July 2025. The day starts at 9am, with tug of war as the tide comes in, then swimming races, then the greasy pole. This is then followed by rural sports day on  Saturday 2nd August at 1.45pm the gilly catching competition and then finally the sandcastle competition when the tide has gone out! Full day of family fun – all for free.

For the greasy pole, competitors run or walk along a heavily-greased 30ft-long telegraph pole, which is suspended over the seawater, and try to reach its tip while still standing, before plunging into the water at the pole’s far end. Anyone aged 12 or older was eligible to take part and some 50 men, women and children had tackled the pole, with about one in five successfully reaching the end on their feet. Although part of Blakeney Regatta festivities,

Part of the Blakeney Sailing Regatta which runs over the whole weekend, the greasy pole dates back well over a hundred years to 1873 when the prize for winning was a hog.