Kicking the shins of sport...

BRUTAL SPORT: one of the exhibition’s illlustrations

THE latest exhibition at Gallery Oldham explores the facts and legends of the brutal sport of clog fighting.

In these contests working men would engage in man-on-man combat, kicking unprotected shins with their heavy clogs.

“Purring — Sport of the People” opens on Saturday, the result of research by artist Anna FC Smith.

Clog fighting was also known as “parring” or “puncing”.

Anna has a longstanding interest in history, folk culture and communal traditions, with historical and anthropological research forming the basis of much of her work.

The exhibition combines Anna’s art with historical research into the codes and customs of the sport, a selection of images and objects from Gallery Oldham’s collections and other artifacts.

Members of the public were invited to contribute their stories and visitors can listen to several interviews and stories from local people.

Anna said: “People came forward with some fascinating stories. Who would have thought that these fights were once a regular occurrence on Sunday afternoons.”.

The exhibition runs until April 9.